CHAPTER 10

HOW THEY EXAMINED THEIR ACTIONS MORNING AND EVENING

These and all other actions of the day they contrived in the morning before they rose, and examined at night before they slept; thus, by a twofold act, exercising the memory.311 They conceived that it was requisite to retain and preserve in memory all which they learned; and that lessons and doctrines should be so far acquired as they are able to remember what they have learned; for that is it which they ought to know and bear in mind. For this reason they cherished memory much, and exercised it, and took great care of it; and in learning they gave not over until they had gotten their lesson perfectly by heart.

A Pythagorean rose not out of bed before he had called to mind the actions of the day past, which recollection he performed in this manner. He endeavored to call to mind what he first had either heard or given in charge to his servants as soon as he rose; and what in the second place, and what in the third, and so on in the same order. And then for his going forth, whom he met first, whom next; and what discourses he had with the first, what with the second, what with the third, and so of the rest; for he endeavored to repeat in memory all that happened throughout the whole day in order as it happened. And if at their up-rising they had more leisure, then after the same manner they endeavored to recollect all that happened to them for three days before. Thus they chiefly exercised the memory.³¹² For they conceived that nothing conduces more to science, experience, and prudence than to remember many things.

This was conformable to the institution of Pythagoras. For he advised to have regard chiefly to two times: that when we went to sleep, and that when we rose from sleep. At each of these we ought to consider what actions are past, and what to come.³¹³ Of the past, we ought to require an account of ourselves; of the future, we ought to have a providential care. Wherefore he advised everyone to repeat to himself these verses as soon as he came home or before he slept.³¹⁴

Nor suffer sleep at night to close thine eyes,
Till thrice thy acts that day thou hast reviewed,
How slipped? what deeds? what duty left undone?

And before they arose, these:

As soon as thou wakest, in order lay
The actions to be done that following day.

To this effect, Ausonius has a Pythagorean Discourse as he terms it.

A good wise person, such as hardly one

Of many thousands to Apollo known,

He his own judge strictly himself surveys,

Nor minds the Noble's or the Common's ways:

But, like the world itself, is smooth and round,

In all his polished frame no blemish found.

He thinks how long Cancer the day extends,

And Capricorn the night. Himself perpends

In a just balance, that no flaw where be,

Nothing exuberant, but that all agree;

Within that all be solid, nothing by

A hollow sound betray vacuity.

Nor suffer sleep to seize his eyes, before

All acts of that long day he has run o're;

What things were missed, what done in time, what not;

Why here respect, or reason there forgot;

Why kept the worse opinion? when reliev'd

A beggar; why with broken passion griev'd;

What wish'd which had been better not desir'd;

Why profit before honesty requir'd?

If any by some speech or look offended,

Why nature more than discipline attended?

All words & deeds thus searched from morn to night,

He sorrows for the ill, rewards the right.