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Story XCVI

of the philosophers forbade his son to eat much, because repletion keeps people ailing. The boy replied: "O father! It is hunger that kills! Hast thou not heard of the maxim of the ingenious, that it is better to die satiated than to bear hunger?"

He rejoined: "Be moderate; eat and drink, but not to excess."

Eat not so much that it comes up to thy mouth, Nor so little that from weakness thy soul comes up.

Although maintenance of life depends upon food, victuals bring on disease when eaten to excess. If thou eatest rose-confectionery without appetite, it injures thee, but eating dry bread after a long fast is like rose-preserve.