Free Pythagoras: His Life and Teaching, a Compendium of Classical Sources by James Wasserman, Thomas Stanley, Henry L. Drake, J Daniel Gunther

order what and how he should read. When they were to depart, he who filled the wine poured forth to them in libation. And during the libation, the eldest of them declared these things: that none should hurt or kill a domestic plant or fruit; besides, that they should speak well and think reverently of the gods, daemons, and heroes; likewise to think well of parents and benefactors; to assist law and oppose rebellion. This said, everyone departed to his house.
    They wore a white and clean garment; they had also coverlets—white and clean—of linen; for they used not any of skins, because they approved not the exercise of hunting. 310
    These were the traditions that were delivered to that society of men, partly concerning diet (of which hereafter more particularly), partly concerning the course of life.

CHAPTER 10
    H OW T HEY E XAMINED T HEIR A CTIONS M ORNING AND E VENING
    T hese 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