Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 15

Inde mihi quaedam permansere, Lucili. Magno enim in omnia inceptu veneram. Deinde ad civitatis vitam reductus ex bene coeptis pauca servavi. Inde ostreis boletisque in omnem vitam renuntiatum est; nec enim cibi, sed oblectamenta sunt ad edendum saturos cogentia, quod gratissimum est edacibus et se ultra quam capiunt farcientibus, facile descensura, facile reditura.

car j’avais abordé tout le système avec enthousiasme ; puis,
ramène aux pratiques du monde, j’ai peu conservé de ces bons commencements. Depuis lors, j’ai pour toute la vie renoncé aux huîtres et aux champignons : ce sont là non des aliments, mais de perfides douceurs qui forcent à manger quand on n’a plus faim, charme bien senti des gourmands qui engloutissent plus qu’ils ne peuvent tenir : cela passe facilement et se vomit de même.

And that is why some of these habits have stayed with me, Lucilius. For I had planned my whole life with great resolves. And later, when I returned to the duties of a citizen, I did indeed keep a few of these good resolutions. That is why I have forsaken oysters and mushrooms for ever: since they are not really food, but are relishes to bully the sated stomach into further eating, as is the fancy of gourmands and those who stuff themselves beyond their powers of digestion: down with it quickly, and up with it quickly!