The art of longevity, or, A diæteticall instition written by Edmund Gayton.
Gayton, Edmund, 1608-1666.
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To Mr. Gayton on his Art of LONGEVITY.
FOr Surfeits some pay dear, even all their wealth,
Others farre dearer, their more precious health.
Yet heavier punishment, we see, or •ead,
Poor Copenhagen feels it from the Swede,
Whose Sword, with Famine sharper then its edge,
Now sadly gives the Danish Healths a Pledge.
Could now one cure this feasting evil, give
Sick appetite the great Restorative;
Teach us to feed like Burgers, yet to rise
Like Doctors, lesse mercy, and more wise,
To such a Gale•, Cities that abound
In Riches, noble Pen••ons might pro•ound:
I wish they would, facetious Gayton, then
Should'st thou have Fees due to thy learned Pen;
That from th' Arabians hath to us transferr'd
The Secret, that prese•ves that long-liv'd Bird,
Which thou prescrib'd, not in hard words, that make
The Bill as nauseous as the Drugs we take.
'So clearly and so well thy Book is writ,
That we have here choice Diet, and choice Wit▪
Robert Stapylton Knight.
