Chapter XVIII. Of his public profession of faith, and of his delivering… tion is hard to know, yet do thou thus reflect upon it by considering how much thou wouldst wish to eat if it were right for thee to consult thy desire, and while this doth still endure, deny some part thereof as shall seem reasonable to thee.
Fifthly, toward the close of a meal, or before partaking of the last dish, consider how much thou hast consumed, and how much more thou wouldest eat if thou didst continue, and in future omit somewhat of the earlier or latter part of the meal. Sixthly, at the beginning when thou dost set forth to prepare thy food think upon the victual and how much thou dost require. Seventhly, take but one cooked pear after thy meal, and that not of inordinate size, or three of the very smallest. Eighthly, always eat in the evening between the fourth 68 and fifth hours, unless the presence of guests, or infirmity, or some accident, such as a journey, compel thee. This is approved for the following reasons: (1) This hour is convenient for digestion and for the hindering of that corruption of food in the stomach which would take place in waking hours through lack of warmth; (2) during waking hours study and other matters such as care or sadness do impede digestion; (3) take food at this time lest drink following food may hinder digestion; (4) it doth prevent drink so taken from causing disturbance as otherwise doth often happen; (5) lest raw fruit, vegetables, and the like might do hurt as they would if taken in the daytime; (6) thy sleep will be the better, for a full belly doth slumber readily; (7) at that time study and prayer which are the portion of the daytime do less hinder sleep; (8) by this custom thou wilt get thee to bed quickly, and always at the same hour; (9) by so doing one may get continuous sleep through going to rest in good time; (10) the love of study will not tempt thee too much at night; (11) by this means thou hast the day unbroken for work and prayer. (12) Thus, all thy waking hours are spent in abstinence and fasting, are unhindered and fit for the service of God and for work. Also a man hath more desire for food when he is eating than when he is altogether abstaining, so that one cannot so readily practise abstinence when near to or at the table. From the Exaltation of the Holy Cross till Easter take but one daily meal; this is the custom of the Carthusians and Bernardines and others: this Season doth begin in September about the Equinox, and doth continue until near about the Vernal Equinox. 69
(17) In seasons of great cold it is lawful to take more food, but yet not exceeding one meal daily;—such is the teaching of Hippocrates; this doth help thee to resist the cold, which thou couldst scarce do otherwise; for the same reason thou mayest sleep longer by one hour or an hour and a half. When it is needful to eat twice in the day take a small amount, and food of light quality, such as one egg and no more, or rather some drying food as bread and wine, or vegetables, with a little bread, but if thou take wine let it be for thy stomach's sake.
The reasons of this are as above, where I have argued of the need to eat at night.
I would wish to be able never to drink wine unnecessarily so long as I am in good health, lest I violate the precepts of Paul; for to do so is luxury and is over costly. One should never drink immediately before or after a meal, nor during the course thereof unless infirmity or