Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 4

THE ADVENTURES
You can’t excufe yourfclf on account of your agtf;
'• fince, in one part of your writings, you define old
“ age a natural decay that withers and confumes
“ us; and in coniequcnce of that definition, deplore
“ the ignorance of thofe people who flyle wine the
“ milk of old men. What therefore can you fay in
“ your own jollification ?”
“ You declare war againll me very unjuflly, (5fe-
“ plied the old phyfician.) Had I drank pure wine,:
“ you would have had fome rcafon to look upon me
“ as an unfaithful obferver of my own method; but*
“ you fee that my wine is very much diluted.”
“ Another inconfiftency, my dear mailer, (faid J)
“ don’t you rei'.ember that you blamed the Canon
“ Sedillo for drinking wine, although it was mixed
“ with a great deal of water ? Contefs freely, that
“ you are fenfible of your error, and that wine is
“ not a fatal liquor, as you advanced in your works,
provided it be drank with moderation.”
Thefe words perplexed the Dodlor, who could
not deny that he had forbid the ufe of wine in his
books, but lhame and vanity hindered him from
owning that my reproach was juft, and he did not
know what anfwer to make. To extricate him out
of this dilemma, I Ihifted the difeourfe; and in a
moment after took leave of him, exhorting him to
keep his ground Hill again!! the new pradlitioners.
“ Courage, Signior Sangrado, (faid I to him) be in*
“ defatigable in decrying kermes, and combat againft
“ blooding in the foot without ceafing. If, in fpite
“ of your zeal and phyfical orthodoxy, that empi-
“ rical race Ihould fucceed in ruining true difeipline,
“ you will at leaf! enjoy the confolation of having
•• done your utmoft to maintain it.”