HOW TO GET STRONG
But he had another drawback, one of which he was soon conscious, and like a man of sense, he set about curing it. As Dr. Lord says: "Cicero was not naturally robust. His figure was tall and spare; his neck long and slender; and his mouth anything but sensual. Impetuous, ardent, fiery, his health could not stand the strain on his nervous system; and he was obliged to leave Rome for recreation. He remained in Greece and Asia Minor for two years—and at thirty returned, and attended upon his profession." But his life abroad was not only for recreation.
"Cicero was of a lean and slender habit, and his stomach was so weak that he was obliged to be very sparing in his diet, and not to eat till a late hour in the day. His voice, however, had a variety of inflections, but was at the same time harsh and unformed. He went to Athens and heard Antiochus, and was charmed with the smoothness and grace of his elocution. He spent some time there. His body by this time was strengthened by exercise, and brought to a good habit. His voice was formed, and at the same time that it was full and sonorous had gained a sufficient sweetness and was brought to a key which his constitution could bear.
"He had a handsome country-house at Arpinum, a farm near Naples, and another at Pompeii, but they were not very considerable. Upon these he lived in a genteel, and at the same time a frugal, manner, with men of letters, both Greeks and Romans, around him. He rarely took his meal before sunset; not that business or study prevented his sitting down to table sooner—but the weakness of his stomach, he thought, required that
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