Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/32

 always loading the Table, and eating of tid-Bits, must sink a Man's Pocket cruelly. Such Extravagance commonly ends in Beggary; the Glutton lays all upon the tip of his Tongue, and swallows his Estate like a poached Egg. And which is more, these Excesses make the Carkass smart, as well as the Pocket. And here the Epicurean is attack'd in the Seat of his Pleasure, and touch'd in the most sensible Part. Thus Epicurus observes, that those People who have no Brains to their Palate, commonly pay for't in their Health. For that which would be Nourishment to a hungry Stomach, is but a Burthen to us when we are full. Thus a great many Dishes breed a great many Diseases, we eat our selves into a Consumption ; and grow leaner by being over stuffed, than we should do by fasting. And to conclude, Drunkenness and Gluttony, are punish'd withy such Defluxions of Rheum, with so much Qualm, and Headach, with such Pains and Weakness in their whole Body ; insomuch that if Men would think a little before-hand, and compute upon the Consequences of a Debauch ; they would not run themselves a ground so often, nor carry the Frolick so far as they do. Besides, Epicurus and his Followers, had a farther aim in their Experiments of Sobriety : They did not Rh