ORIGINAL TEXT DR. JOHN ORDRONAUX'S TRANSLATION
Si vis incolumen, si vis te vivere sanum, If thou to health and vigor wouldst attain,
Curas tolle graves, irasci crede profanum, Shun weighty cares—all anger deem profane,
Parce mero, coenato parum; non tibi vanum From heavy suppers and much sit wine abstain.
Surgere post epulas; somnum fuge meridianum; Nor trivial count it, after pompous fare,
Ne mictum retine, ne comprime fortiter anum. To rise from table and to take the air.
Haec bene si serves, tu longo tempore vives. Shun idle, noonday slumber, nor delay
The urgent calls of Nature to obey.
Conditiones Necessariae Medico. Demeanor Necessary For the Physician.
Clemens accedat medicus cum vesta polita; Let doctors call in clothing fine arrayed,
Luceat in digitis splendida gemma suis. With sparkling jewels on their hands displayed;
Si fieri valeat, quadrupes sibi sit pretiosus; And, if their means allow, let there be had,
Ejus et ornatus splendidus atque decens. To ride, a showy, rich-attired pad.
Ornatu nitido conabere carior esse, For when well dressed and looking over-nice,
Splendidus ornatus plurima dona dabit You may presume to charge a higher price,
Viliter inductus munus sibi vile parabit, Since patients always pay those doctors best,
Nam pauper medicus vilia dona capit. Who make their calls in finest clothing dressed,
While such as go about in simple frieze,
Must put up with the meanest grade of fees;
For thus it is, poor doctors everywhere
Get but the smallest pittance for their share.
