oper motions, and should cultivate music and all philosophy, if he
would deserve to be called truly fair and truly good. And the separate
parts should be treated in the same manner, in imitation of the pattern
of the universe; for as the body is heated and also cooled within by
the elements which enter into it, and is again dried up and moistened by
external things, and experiences these and the like affections from both
kinds of motions, the result is that the body if given up to motion when
in a state of quiescence is overmastered and perishes; but if any one,
in imitation of that which we call the foster-mother and nurse of the
universe, will not allow the body ever to be inactive, but is always
producing motions and agitations through its whole extent, which form
the natural defence against other motions both internal and external,
and by moderate exercise reduces to order according to their affinities
the particles and affections which are wandering about the body, as we
have already said when speaking of the universe, he will not allow enemy
placed by the side of enemy to stir up wars and disorders in the body,
but he will place friend by the side of friend, so as to create health.
Now of all motions that is the best which is produced in a thing
by itself, for it is most akin to the motion of thought and of the
universe; but that motion which is caused by others is not so good, and
worst of all is that which moves the body, when at rest, in parts only
and by some external agency. Wherefore of all modes of purifying and
re-uniting the body the best is gymnastic; the next best is a surging
motion, as in sailing or any other mode of conveyance which is not
fatiguing; the third sort of motion may be of use in a case of extreme
necessity, but in any other will be adopted by no man of sense: I mean
the purgative treatment of physicians; for diseases unless they are
very dangerous should not be irritated by medicines, since every form of
disease is in a manner akin to the living being, whose complex frame
has an appointed term of life. For not the whole race only, but each
individual--barring inevitable accidents--comes into the world having a
fixed span, and the triangles in us are originally framed with power to
last for a certain time, beyond which no man can prolong his life. And
this holds also of the constitution of diseases; if any one regardless
of the appointed time tries to subdue them by medicine, he only
aggrav