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CHAP. XV.] souls to be beautiful while ignoring the best means to the desired end.

An old writer quaintly observed: "Who is he that values health at the rate it is worth? Not he that hath it; he reckons it among the common ordinary enjoyments, and takes as little notice of it, or less regards it than his long-worn clothes—perhaps more careful of his garments, remembering their price; but thinks his health costs him nothing, and coming to him at so easy a rate, values it accordingly, and hath little regard to keep it; is never truly sensible of what he enjoyed until he finds the want of it by sickness; then health above all things is earnestly desired and wished for."

"You that have health," he continues, "and know not how to prize it, I'll tell you what it is that you may love it better, and put a higher value upon it, and endeavour to preserve it with a more serious, stricter observance and tuition.

"Health is that which makes your meat and drink both savoury and pleasant, else nature's injunction of eating and drinking were a hard task and slavish custom.

"Health is that which makes your bed easy and your sleep refreshing; that revives your strength with the rising sun and makes you cheerful at the light of another day; 'tis that which fills up the hollow and uneven places of your carcase, and makes your body plump and comely; 'tis that which dressed you up in Nature's richest attire, and adorns your face with her choicest colours.