The art of living long : a new and improved English version of the treatise by the celebrated Venetian centenarian, Louis Cornaro, with essays / by Joseph Addison, Lord Bacon, and Sir William Temple.

  • Cornaro, Luigi, 1475-1566.
Date:
[1903]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The art of living long : a new and improved English version of the treatise by the celebrated Venetian centenarian, Louis Cornaro, with essays / by Joseph Addison, Lord Bacon, and Sir William Temple. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Couldst mount thy horse when past fourscore, And climb steep hills, and on dull days Cheer the long hours with learned lore. Or spend thy wit on tales and plays. In summer, thou wast friend of flowers, And, when the winter nights grew long. And music cheered the evening hours, Still clearest was the old mans song. Thus, while thy calm and thoughtful mind The ravages of time survived. Three generations of mankind Dropped round thee, joyless and short-lived. Thou sawest the flowers of youth decay, Half dried and withered through excess, Till, nursed by virtue’s milder ray. Thy green age grew to fruitfulness. Thou sawest life’s barque on troubled seas Long tossed; care’s clouds thy skies o’er cast; But calm content, with moderate breeze, Brought thee to wisdom’s port at last. Life’s evening, wherein most behold Their season of regrets and fears, Became for thee an age of gold, And gave thee all thy happiest years. As gentle airs and genial sun Stay winter’s march when leaves grow sere. And, when the summer’s race is run. With a new summer croton the year; [14]