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THE SECOND BOOKE 597
leekes or lettuce, what my broth shall be made withall,
and appoint me either white or claret to drink: and so
of other things else, indifferent to my taste, humour or
custome. I know well it is nothing to them, forsomuch
as sharpnesse and strangenesse are accidents of
physickes proper essence. Lycurgus allowed and
appoynted the sicke men of Sparta to drinke wine.
Why did he so ? Because being in health they hated
the use of it. Even as a gentleman who dwelleth not
farre from me useth wine as a soveraigne remedie
against agews, because being in perfect health, he
hateth the taste thereof as death. Bow many of them
see we to be of my humour ? That is, to disdaine all
physicke for their owne behoofe, and live a kinde of
formall free life, and altogether contrary to that which
they prescribe to others? And what is that but a
manifest abusing of our simplicitie? For, they hold
their life as deare and esteeme their health as pretious
as wee do ours, and would apply their effects to their
skill if themselves knew not the uncertainty and falsehood
of it. It is the feare of paine and death; the
impatience of the disease and griefe: and indiscreet
desire and headlong thirst of health, that so blindeth
them and us. It is meere faintnes that makes our
conceit: and pusillanimitie forceth our credulitie to be
so yeelding and pliable. The greater part of whom
doe notwithstanding not beleeve so much as they
endure and suffer of others; For I heare them complaine,
and speake of it no otherwise than we doe.
Yet in the end are they resolved. What should I doe
then? As if impatience were in it selfe a better
remedie than patience. Is there any of them that
hath yeelded to this miserable subjection, that doth
not likewise yeelde to all maner of impostures? or
dooth not subject himselfe to the mercie of whomsoever
hath the impudencie to promise him recoverie and
warrant him health ?
The Babilonians were wont to carry their sicke people
into the open streetes: the common sort were there
physitians: where all such as passed by were by