Temperance:
The nearest approach thou canst make to happiness is to enjoy from Heaven understanding and health.
These blessings if thou possessest and wouldst preserve to old age, avoid the allurements of Voluptuousness, and fly from her temptations.
When she spreadeth her delicacies on the board, when her wine sparkleth in the cup, when she smileth upon thee and persuadeth thee to be joyful and happy — then is the hour of danger, and let reason stand firmly on her guard.
For if thou hearkenest unto the words of the Adversary, thou art deceived and betrayed.
The joy which she promiseth changeth to madness, and her enjoyments lead on to diseases and death.
Look round her board, cast thine eyes upon her guests and observe those who have been allured by her smiles, who have listened to her temptations.
Are they not meagre? Are they not sickly? Are they not spiritless?
Their short hours of jollity and riot are followed by tedious days of pain and dejection. She hath debauched and palled their appetites, and they have now no relish for her nicest dainties; her votaries are become her victims as the just and natural consequence which God hath ordained, in the constitution of things, for the punishment of those who abuse His gifts.
But who is she that with graceful steps, and with a lively air, trippeth over yonder plain?
The rose blusheth in her cheeks, the sweetness of the morning breatheth from her lips; joy, tempered with innocence and modesty, sparkleth in her eyes, and from the cheerfulness of her heart she singeth as she walketh.
Her name is Health: she is the daughter of Exercise who begot her on Temperance; their sons inhabit the mountains that stretch over the northern regions of San Ton Hoe.
They are brave, active, and lively, and partake of all the beauties and virtues of their sister.
Vigour stringeth their nerves, strength dwelleth in their bones, and labour is their delight all the day long.
The employments of their father excite their appetites, and the repasts of their mother refresh them.
To combat the passions is their delight; to conquer evil habits, their glory.
Their pleasures are moderate, and therefore they endure; their repose is short, but sound and undisturbed.
Their blood is pure, their minds are serene, and the physician findeth not the way to their habitations.
But safety dwelleth not with the sons of men, neither is security found within their gates.
Behold them exposed to new dangers from without, while a traitor lurketh within to betray them.
Their health, their strength, their beauty, their activity, have raised desire in the bosom of lascivious Love.
She standeth in her bower, she courteth their regard, she spreadeth her temptations.
Her limbs are soft and delicate, her attire is loose and inviting, wantonness speaketh in her eyes, and on her bosom sits Temptation. She beckoneth them with her finger, she wooeth them with her looks, and by the smoothness of her tongue she endeavoureth to deceive.
Ah! Fly from her allurements, stop thine ears to her enchanting words. If thou meetest the languishing of her eyes, if thou hearest the softness of her voice, if she casteth her arms about thee, she bindeth thee in chains for ever.
Shame followeth, and disease, and want, and care, and repentance.
Enfeebled by dalliance, with luxury pampered, and softened by sloth, strength shall forsake thy limbs and health thy constitution. Thy days shall be few and those inglorious; thy griefs shall be many, yet meet with no compassion.
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