Au. You have said very well; but for all that, to require Abstinence from Flesh of poor Folks, who feed their Families by the Sweat of their Brows, and live a great Way from Rivers and Lakes, is the same Thing as to command a Famine, or rather a Bulimia. And if we believe Homer, it is the miserablest Death in the World to be starv'd to Death.
Ch. So it seem'd to blind Homer; but with Christians, he is not miserable that dies well.
Au. Let that be so; yet it is a very hard Thing to require any Body to die.
Ch. The Popes don't prohibit the eating of Flesh with that Design, to kill Men, but that they may be moderately afflicted if they have transgress'd; or that taking away their pleasant Food, their Bodies may be less fierce against the Spirit.
Au. The moderate Use of Flesh would effect that.
Ch. But in so great a Variety of Bodies certain Bounds of Flesh can't be prescrib'd, a Kind of Food may.
Au. There are Fishes that yield much Aliment, and there are Sorts of Flesh that yield but little.
Ch. But in general Flesh is most nourishing.
Au. Pray tell me, if you were to go a Journey any whither, would you chuse a lively Horse that was a little wanton, or a diseased Horse, who would often stumble and throw his Rider?
Ch. What do you mean by that?