ERASTAE.

or [do they] render a man rather sleepless and nauseous, and with a soft neck and thin through cares? And when he had nodded in agreement, the young men were delighted and laughed; but the other man blushed. Then I said, "What about you, therefore? Do you concede that neither small nor great labors produce a good condition of the body, but moderate ones? Or do you oppose us who are of the same opinion?" "I would gladly," he said, "oppose him, and I would be able to defend what I proposed against him, even if I had a less valid case; for it is of no value. But it is not fitting to contend with you too insolently; I confess, therefore, that not many, but temperate exercises provide a good bodily condition for men." "And what of food?" I asked. "Is it many, or moderate?" "And food," he said. Furthermore, I compelled him to concede that all other things that concern the body are most beneficial when moderate, but little or excessive, nothing. And he confessed that moderate things help. "But what concerns the soul," I asked, "when moderate things are applied, do they conduce more, or immoderate ones?" "Moderate." "Are disciplines not among those things that are applied to the soul and are beneficial?" He agreed. "Therefore, do they bring utility from disciplines that are temperate, not those that are many?" He conceded. "Who, therefore, is it fitting to interrogate as to what kinds of labors and foods are suitable for bodies?" "In this, I believe we three agree: that the doctor, or the physical trainer, should be asked." "But what about the scattering of seeds, how much is advantageous?" "It is consistent to ask the farmer." "But truly, regarding the sowing and planting of disciplines..."