All my joys to this are folly, Naught so sweet as melancholy.

'Tis my sole plague to be alone, I am a beast, a monster grown, I will no light nor company, I find it now my misery.

The scene is turn'd, my joys are gone, Fear, discontent, and sorrows come.

All my griefs to this are jolly, Naught so fierce as melancholy.

I'll not change life with any king, I ravisht am: can the world bring More joy, than still to laugh and smile, In pleasant toys time to beguile?

Do not, O do not trouble me, So sweet content I feel and see.

All my joys to this are folly, None so divine as melancholy.

I'll change my state with any wretch, Thou canst from gaol or dunghill fetch; My pain's past cure, another h.e.l.l, I may not in this torment dwell!

Now desperate I hate my life, Lend me a halter or a knife; All my griefs to this are jolly, Naught so d.a.m.n'd as melancholy.

DEMOCRITUS JUNIOR TO THE READER.

Gentle reader, I presume thou wilt be very inquisitive to know what antic or personate actor this is, that so insolently intrudes upon this common theatre, to the world's view, arrogating another man's name; whence he is, why he doth it, and what he hath to say; although, as [7]he said, _Primum si noluero, non respondebo, quis coacturus est_? I am a free man born, and may choose whether I will tell; who can compel me? If I be urged, I will as readily reply as that Egyptian in [8]Plutarch, when a curious fellow would needs know what he had in his basket, _Quum vides velatam, quid inquiris in rem absconditam_? It was therefore covered, because he should not know what was in it. Seek not after that which is hid; if the contents please thee, [9]"and be for thy use, suppose the Man in the Moon, or whom thou wilt to be the author;" I would not willingly be known. Yet in some sort to give thee satisfaction, which is more than I need, I will show a reason, both of this usurped name, t.i.tle, and subject. And first of the name of Democritus; lest any man, by reason of it, should be deceived, expecting a pasquil, a satire, some ridiculous treatise (as I myself should have done), some prodigious tenet, or paradox of the earth's motion, of infinite worlds, _in infinito vacuo, ex fortuita atomorum collisione_, in an infinite waste, so caused by an accidental collision of motes in the sun, all which Democritus held, Epicurus and their master Lucippus of old maintained, and are lately revived by Copernicus, Brunus, and some others. Besides, it hath been always an ordinary custom, as [10]Gellius observes, "for later writers and impostors, to broach many absurd and insolent fictions, under the name of so n.o.ble a philosopher as Democritus, to get themselves credit, and by that means the more to be respected," as artificers usually do, _Novo qui marmori ascribunt Praxatilem suo_. 'Tis not so with me.

[11] "Non hic Centaurus, non Gorgonas, Harpyasque Invenies, hominem pagina nostra sapit."

"No Centaurs here, or Gorgons look to find, My subject is of man and human kind."

Thou thyself art the subject of my discourse.

[12] "Quicquid agunt homines, votum, timor, ira, voluptas, Gaudia, discursus, nostri farrago libelli."

"Whate'er men do, vows, fears, in ire, in sport, Joys, wand'rings, are the sum of my report."

My intent is no otherwise to use his name, than Mercurius Gallobelgicus, Mercurius Britannicus, use the name of Mercury, [13]Democritus Christia.n.u.s, &c.; although there be some other circ.u.mstances for which I have masked myself under this vizard, and some peculiar respect which I cannot so well express, until I have set down a brief character of this our Democritus, what he was, with an epitome of his life.

Democritus, as he is described by [14]Hippocrates and [15]Laertius, was a little wearish old man, very melancholy by nature, averse from company in his latter days, [16]and much given to solitariness, a famous philosopher in his age, [17]_coaevus_ with Socrates, wholly addicted to his studies at the last, and to a private life: wrote many excellent works, a great divine, according to the divinity of those times, an expert physician, a politician, an excellent mathematician, as [18]Diacosmus and the rest of his works do witness. He was much delighted with the studies of husbandry, saith [19]Columella, and often I find him cited by [20]Constantinus and others treating of that subject. He knew the natures, differences of all beasts, plants, fishes, birds; and, as some say, could [21]understand the tunes and voices of them. In a word, he was _omnifariam doctus_, a general scholar, a great student; and to the intent he might better contemplate, [22]I find it related by some, that he put out his eyes, and was in his old age voluntarily blind, yet saw more than all Greece besides, and [23] writ of every subject, _Nihil in toto opificio naturae, de quo non scripsit_.

[24]A man of an excellent wit, profound conceit; and to attain knowledge the better in his younger years, he travelled to Egypt and [25] Athens, to confer with learned men, [26]"admired of some, despised of others." After a wandering life, he settled at Abdera, a town in Thrace, and was sent for thither to be their lawmaker, recorder, or town-clerk, as some will; or as others, he was there bred and born. Howsoever it was, there he lived at last in a garden in the suburbs, wholly betaking himself to his studies and a private life, [27]"saving that sometimes he would walk down to the haven," [28]"and laugh heartily at such variety of ridiculous objects, which there he saw." Such a one was Democritus.

But in the mean time, how doth this concern me, or upon what reference do I usurp his habit? I confess, indeed, that to compare myself unto him for aught I have yet said, were both impudency and arrogancy. I do not presume to make any parallel, _Antistat mihi millibus trecentis_, [29]_parvus sum, nullus sum, altum nec spiro, nec spero_. Yet thus much I will say of myself, and that I hope without all suspicion of pride, or self-conceit, I have lived a silent, sedentary, solitary, private life, _mihi et musis_ in the University, as long almost as Xenocrates in Athens, _ad senectam fere_ to learn wisdom as he did, penned up most part in my study. For I have been brought up a student in the most flourishing college of Europe, [30]_augustissimo collegio_, and can brag with [31]Jovius, almost, _in ea luce domicilii Vacicani, totius...o...b..s celeberrimi, per 37 annos multa opportunaque didici_; for thirty years I have continued (having the use of as good [32]libraries as ever he had) a scholar, and would be therefore loath, either by living as a drone, to be an unprofitable or unworthy member of so learned and n.o.ble a society, or to write that which should be any way dishonourable to such a royal and ample foundation. Something I have done, though by my profession a divine, yet _turbine raptus ingenii_, as [33]he said, out of a running wit, an unconstant, unsettled mind, I had a great desire (not able to attain to a superficial skill in any) to have some smattering in all, to be _aliquis in omnibus, nullus in singulis_, [34] which [35]Plato commends, out of him [36]Lipsius approves and furthers, "as fit to be imprinted in all curious wits, not to be a slave of one science, or dwell altogether in one subject, as most do, but to rove abroad, _centum puer artium_, to have an oar in every man's boat, to [37]taste of every dish, and sip of every cup," which, saith [38]Montaigne, was well performed by Aristotle, and his learned countryman Adrian Turnebus. This roving humour (though not with like success) I have ever had, and like a ranging spaniel, that barks at every bird he sees, leaving his game, I have followed all, saving that which I should, and may justly complain, and truly, _qui ubique est, nusquam est_,[39] which [40]Gesner did in modesty, that I have read many books, but to little purpose, for want of good method; I have confusedly tumbled over divers authors in our libraries, with small profit, for want of art, order, memory, judgment. I never travelled but in map or card, in which mine unconfined thoughts have freely expatiated, as having ever been especially delighted with the study of Cosmography. [41]Saturn was lord of my geniture, culminating, &c., and Mars princ.i.p.al significator of manners, in partile conjunction with my ascendant; both fortunate in their houses, &c. I am not poor, I am not rich; _nihil est, nihil deest_, I have little, I want nothing: all my treasure is in Minerva's tower. Greater preferment as I could never get, so am I not in debt for it, I have a competence (_laus Deo_) from my n.o.ble and munificent patrons, though I live still a collegiate student, as Democritus in his garden, and lead a monastic life, _ipse mihi theatrum_, sequestered from those tumults and troubles of the world, _Et tanquam in specula positus_, ([42]as he said) in some high place above you all, like Stoicus Sapiens, _omnia saecula, praeterita presentiaque videns, uno velut intuitu_, I hear and see what is done abroad, how others [43]run, ride, turmoil, and macerate themselves in court and country, far from those wrangling lawsuits, _aulia vanitatem, fori ambitionem, ridere mec.u.m soleo_: I laugh at all, [44]only secure, lest my suit go amiss, my ships perish, corn and cattle miscarry, trade decay, I have no wife nor children good or bad to provide for. A mere spectator of other men's fortunes and adventures, and how they act their parts, which methinks are diversely presented unto me, as from a common theatre or scene. I hear new news every day, and those ordinary rumours of war, plagues, fires, inundations, thefts, murders, ma.s.sacres, meteors, comets, spectrums, prodigies, apparitions, of towns taken, cities besieged in France, Germany, Turkey, Persia, Poland, &c., daily musters and preparations, and such like, which these tempestuous times afford, battles fought, so many men slain, monomachies, shipwrecks, piracies and sea-fights; peace, leagues, stratagems, and fresh alarms. A vast confusion of vows, wishes, actions, edicts, pet.i.tions, lawsuits, pleas, laws, proclamations, complaints, grievances are daily brought to our ears. New books every day, pamphlets, corantoes, stories, whole catalogues of volumes of all sorts, new paradoxes, opinions, schisms, heresies, controversies in philosophy, religion, &c. Now come tidings of weddings, maskings, mummeries, entertainments, jubilees, emba.s.sies, tilts and tournaments, trophies, triumphs, revels, sports, plays: then again, as in a new shifted scene, treasons, cheating tricks, robberies, enormous villainies in all kinds, funerals, burials, deaths of princes, new discoveries, expeditions, now comical, then tragical matters. Today we hear of new lords and officers created, tomorrow of some great men deposed, and then again of fresh honours conferred; one is let loose, another imprisoned; one purchaseth, another breaketh: he thrives, his neighbour turns bankrupt; now plenty, then again dearth and famine; one runs, another rides, wrangles, laughs, weeps, &c. This I daily hear, and such like, both private and public news, amidst the gallantry and misery of the world; jollity, pride, perplexities and cares, simplicity and villainy; subtlety, knavery, candour and integrity, mutually mixed and offering themselves; I rub on _privus privatus_; as I have still lived, so I now continue, _statu quo prius_, left to a solitary life, and mine own domestic discontents: saving that sometimes, _ne quid mentiar_, as Diogenes went into the city, and Democritus to the haven to see fashions, I did for my recreation now and then walk abroad, look into the world, and could not choose but make some little observation, _non tam sagax observator ac simplex recitator_, [45]

not as they did, to scoff or laugh at all, but with a mixed pa.s.sion.

[46] "Bilem saepe, joc.u.m vestri movere tumultus."

"Ye wretched mimics, whose fond heats have been, How oft! the objects of my mirth and spleen."

I did sometime laugh and scoff with Lucian, and satirically tax with Menippus, lament with Herac.l.i.tus, sometimes again I was [47]_petulanti splene chachinno_, and then again, [48]_urere bilis jecur_, I was much moved to see that abuse which I could not mend. In which pa.s.sion howsoever I may sympathise with him or them, 'tis for no such respect I shroud myself under his name; but either in an unknown habit to a.s.sume a little more liberty and freedom of speech, or if you will needs know, for that reason and only respect which Hippocrates relates at large in his Epistle to Damegetus, wherein he doth express, how coming to visit him one day, he found Democritus in his garden at Abdera, in the suburbs, [49]under a shady bower, [50]with a book on his knees, busy at his study, sometimes writing, sometimes walking. The subject of his book was melancholy and madness; about him lay the carcases of many several beasts, newly by him cut up and anatomised; not that he did contemn G.o.d's creatures, as he told Hippocrates, but to find out the seat of this _atra bilis_, or melancholy, whence it proceeds, and how it was engendered in men's bodies, to the intent he might better cure it in himself, and by his writings and observation [51]teach others how to prevent and avoid it. Which good intent of his, Hippocrates highly commended: Democritus Junior is therefore bold to imitate, and because he left it imperfect, and it is now lost, _quasi succenturiator Democriti_, to revive again, prosecute, and finish in this treatise.

You have had a reason of the name. If the t.i.tle and inscription offend your gravity, were it a sufficient justification to accuse others, I could produce many sober treatises, even sermons themselves, which in their fronts carry more fantastical names. Howsoever, it is a kind of policy in these days, to prefix a fantastical t.i.tle to a book which is to be sold; for, as larks come down to a day-net, many vain readers will tarry and stand gazing like silly pa.s.sengers at an antic picture in a painter's shop, that will not look at a judicious piece. And, indeed, as [52]Scaliger observes, "nothing more invites a reader than an argument unlooked for, unthought of, and sells better than a scurrile pamphlet," _tum maxime c.u.m novitas excitat [53]palatum_. "Many men," saith Gellius, "are very conceited in their inscriptions," "and able" (as [54]Pliny quotes out of Seneca) "to make him loiter by the way that went in haste to fetch a midwife for his daughter, now ready to lie down." For my part, I have honourable [55]precedents for this which I have done: I will cite one for all, Anthony Zara, Pap. Epis., his Anatomy of Wit, in four sections, members, subsections, &c., to be read in our libraries.

If any man except against the matter or manner of treating of this my subject, and will demand a reason of it, I can allege more than one; I write of melancholy, by being busy to avoid melancholy. There is no greater cause of melancholy than idleness, "no better cure than business," as [56]Rhasis holds: and howbeit, _stultus labor est ineptiarum_, to be busy in toys is to small purpose, yet hear that divine Seneca, _aliud agere quam nihil_, better do to no end, than nothing. I wrote therefore, and busied myself in this playing labour, _oliosaque diligentia ut vitarem torporum feriandi_ with Vectius in Macrobius, _atque otium in utile verterem negatium_.

[57] "Simul et jucunda et idonea dicere vita, Lectorem delectando simul atque monendo."

"Poets would profit or delight mankind, And with the pleasing have th' instructive joined.

Profit and pleasure, then, to mix with art, T' inform the judgment, nor offend the heart, Shall gain all votes."

To this end I write, like them, saith Lucian, that "recite to trees, and declaim to pillars for want of auditors:" as [58]Paulus Aegineta ingenuously confesseth, "not that anything was unknown or omitted, but to exercise myself," which course if some took, I think it would be good for their bodies, and much better for their souls; or peradventure as others do, for fame, to show myself (_Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter_). I might be of Thucydides' opinion, [59]"to know a thing and not to express it, is all one as if he knew it not." When I first took this task in hand, _et quod ait [60]ille, impellents genio negotium suscepi_, this I aimed at; [61]_vel ut lenirem animum scribendo_, to ease my mind by writing; for I had _gravidum cor, foetum caput_, a kind of imposthume in my head, which I was very desirous to be unladen of, and could imagine no fitter evacuation than this. Besides, I might not well refrain, for _ubi dolor, ibi digitus_, one must needs scratch where it itches. I was not a little offended with this malady, shall I say my mistress Melancholy, my Aegeria, or my _malus genius_? and for that cause, as he that is stung with a scorpion, I would expel _clavum clavo_, [62]comfort one sorrow with another, idleness with idleness, _ut ex vipera Theriac.u.m_, make an antidote out of that which was the prime cause of my disease. Or as he did, of whom [63]Felix Plater speaks, that thought he had some of Aristophanes' frogs in his belly, still crying _Breec, okex, coax, coax, oop, oop_, and for that cause studied physic seven years, and travelled over most part of Europe to ease himself. To do myself good I turned over such physicians as our libraries would afford, or my [64]private friends impart, and have taken this pains. And why not? Cardan professeth he wrote his book, _De Consolatione_ after his son's death, to comfort himself; so did Tully write of the same subject with like intent after his daughter's departure, if it be his at least, or some impostor's put out in his name, which Lipsius probably suspects. Concerning myself, I can peradventure affirm with Marius in Sall.u.s.t, [65]"that which others hear or read of, I felt and practised myself; they get their knowledge by books, I mine by melancholising."

_Experto crede Roberto_. Something I can speak out of experience, _aerumnabilis experientia me docuit_; and with her in the poet, [66]_Haud ignara mali miseris succurrere disco_; I would help others out of a fellow-feeling; and, as that virtuous lady did of old, [67]"being a leper herself, bestow all her portion to build an hospital for lepers," I will spend my time and knowledge, which are my greatest fortunes, for the common good of all.

Yea, but you will infer that this is [68]_actum agere_, an unnecessary work, _cramben bis coctam apponnere_, the same again and again in other words. To what purpose? [69]"Nothing is omitted that may well be said," so thought Lucian in the like theme. How many excellent physicians have written just volumes and elaborate tracts of this subject? No news here; that which I have is stolen, from others, [70]_Dicitque mihi mea pagina fur es_. If that severe doom of [71]Synesius be true, "it is a greater offence to steal dead men's labours, than their clothes," what shall become of most writers? I hold up my hand at the bar among others, and am guilty of felony in this kind, _habes confitentem reum_, I am content to be pressed with the rest. 'Tis most true, _tenet insanabile multos scribendi cacoethes_, and [72]"there is no end of writing of books," as the wiseman found of old, in this [73]scribbling age, especially wherein [74]"the number of books is without number," (as a worthy man saith,) "presses be oppressed," and out of an itching humour that every man hath to show himself, [75]desirous of fame and honour (_scribimus indocti doctique_----) he will write no matter what, and sc.r.a.pe together it boots not whence. [76]"Bewitched with this desire of fame," _etiam mediis in morbis_, to the disparagement of their health, and scarce able to hold a pen, they must say something, [77]"and get themselves a name," saith Scaliger, "though it be to the downfall and ruin of many others." To be counted writers, _scriptores ut salutentur_, to be thought and held polymaths and polyhistors, _apud imperitum vulgus ob ventosae nomen artis_, to get a paper-kingdom: _nulla spe quaestus sed ampla famae_, in this precipitate, ambitious age, _nunc ut est saeculum, inter immaturam eruditionem, ambitiosum et praeceps_ ('tis [78]Scaliger's censure); and they that are scarce auditors, _vix auditores_, must be masters and teachers, before they be capable and fit hearers. They will rush into all learning, _togatam armatam_, divine, human authors, rake over all indexes and pamphlets for notes, as our merchants do strange havens for traffic, write great tomes, _c.u.m non sint re vera doctiores, sed loquaciores_, whereas they are not thereby better scholars, but greater praters. They commonly pretend public good, but as [79]Gesner observes, 'tis pride and vanity that eggs them on; no news or aught worthy of note, but the same in other terms. _Ne feriarentur forta.s.se typographi vel ideo scribendum est aliquid ut se vixisse testentur_. As apothecaries we make new mixtures everyday, pour out of one vessel into another; and as those old Romans robbed all the cities of the world, to set out their bad-sited Rome, we skim off the cream of other men's wits, pick the choice flowers of their tilled gardens to set out our own sterile plots. _Castrant alios ut libros suos per se graciles alieno adipe suffarciant_ (so [80]Jovius inveighs.) They lard their lean books with the fat of others' works.

_Ineruditi fures_, &c. A fault that every writer finds, as I do now, and yet faulty themselves, [81]_Trium literarum homines_, all thieves; they pilfer out of old writers to stuff up their new comments, sc.r.a.pe Ennius'

dunghills, and out of [82]Democritus' pit, as I have done. By which means it comes to pa.s.s, [83]"that not only libraries and shops are full of our putrid papers, but every close-stool and jakes," _Scribunt carmina quae legunt cacantes_; they serve to put under pies, to [84]lap spice in, and keep roast meat from burning. "With us in France," saith [85]Scaliger, "every man hath liberty to write, but few ability." [86]"Heretofore learning was graced by judicious scholars, but now n.o.ble sciences are vilified by base and illiterate scribblers," that either write for vainglory, need, to get money, or as Parasites to flatter and collogue with some great men, they put cut [87]_burras, quisquiliasque ineptiasque_.

[88]Amongst so many thousand authors you shall scarce find one, by reading of whom you shall be any whit better, but rather much worse, _quibus inficitur potius, quam perficitur_, by which he is rather infected than any way perfected.

[89] ------"Qui talia legit, Quid didicit tandem, quid scit nisi somnia, nugas?"

So that oftentimes it falls out (which Callimachus taxed of old) a great book is a great mischief. [90]Cardan finds fault with Frenchmen and Germans, for their scribbling to no purpose, _non inquit ab edendo deterreo, modo novum aliquid inveniant_, he doth not bar them to write, so that it be some new invention of their own; but we weave the same web still, twist the same rope again and again; or if it be a new invention, 'tis but some bauble or toy which idle fellows write, for as idle fellows to read, and who so cannot invent? [91]"He must have a barren wit, that in this scribbling age can forge nothing. [92]Princes show their armies, rich men vaunt their buildings, soldiers their manhood, and scholars vent their toys;" they must read, they must hear whether they will or no.

[93] "Et quodcunque semel chartis illeverit, omnes Gestiet a furno redeuntes scire lacuque, Et pueros et a.n.u.s"------

"What once is said and writ, all men must know, Old wives and children as they come and go."

"What a company of poets hath this year brought out," as Pliny complains to Sossius Sinesius. [94]"This April every day some or other have recited."

What a catalogue of new books all this year, all this age (I say), have our Frankfort Marts, our domestic Marts brought out? Twice a year, [95]

_Proferunt se nova ingenia et ostentant_, we stretch our wits out, and set them to sale, _magno conatu nihil agimus_. So that which [96]Gesner much desires, if a speedy reformation be not had, by some prince's edicts and grave supervisors, to restrain this liberty, it will run on _in infinitum_.

_Quis tam avidus librorum h.e.l.luo_, who can read them? As already, we shall have a vast chaos and confusion of books, we are [97]oppressed with them, [98]our eyes ache with reading, our fingers with turning. For my part I am one of the number, _nos numerus sumus_, (we are mere ciphers): I do not deny it, I have only this of Macrobius to say for myself, _Omne meum, nihil meum_, 'tis all mine, and none mine. As a good housewife out of divers fleeces weaves one piece of cloth, a bee gathers wax and honey out of many flowers, and makes a new bundle of all, _Floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant_, I have laboriously [99]collected this cento out of divers writers, and that _sine injuria_, I have wronged no authors, but given every man his own; which [100]Hierom so much commends in Nepotian; he stole not whole verses, pages, tracts, as some do nowadays, concealing their authors' names, but still said this was Cyprian's, that Lactantius, that Hilarius, so said Minutius Felix, so Victorinus, thus far Arn.o.bius: I cite and quote mine authors (which, howsoever some illiterate scribblers account pedantical, as a cloak of ignorance, and opposite to their affected fine style, I must and will use) _sumpsi, non suripui_; and what Varro, _lib. 6.

de re rust._ speaks of bees, _minime maleficae nullius opus vellicantes faciunt delerius_, I can say of myself, Whom have I injured? The matter is theirs most part, and yet mine, _apparet unde sumptum sit_ (which Seneca approves), _aliud tamen quam unde sumptum sit apparet_, which nature doth with the aliment of our bodies incorporate, digest, a.s.similate, I do _concoquere quod hausi_, dispose of what I take. I make them pay tribute, to set out this my Maceronicon, the method only is mine own, I must usurp that of [101]Wecker _e Ter. nihil dictum quod non dictum prius, methodus sola artificem ostendit_, we can say nothing but what hath been said, the composition and method is ours only, and shows a scholar. Oribasius, Aesius, Avicenna, have all out of Galen, but to their own method, _diverso stilo, non diversa fide_. Our poets steal from Homer; he spews, saith Aelian, they lick it up. Divines use Austin's words verbatim still, and our story-dressers do as much; he that comes last is commonly best,

------"donec quid grandius aetas Postera sorsque ferat melior."------[102]

Though there were many giants of old in physic and philosophy, yet I say with [103]Didacus Stella, "A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant himself;" I may likely add, alter, and see farther than my predecessors; and it is no greater prejudice for me to indite after others, than for Aelia.n.u.s Montaltus, that famous physician, to write _de morbis capitis_ after Jason Pratensis, Heurnius, Hildesheim, &c., many horses to run in a race, one logician, one rhetorician, after another.

Oppose then what thou wilt,

"Allatres licet usque nos et usque Et gannitibus improbis lacessas."

I solve it thus. And for those other faults of barbarism, [104]Doric dialect, extemporanean style, tautologies, apish imitation, a rhapsody of rags gathered together from several dunghills, excrements of authors, toys and fopperies confusedly tumbled out, without art, invention, judgment, wit, learning, harsh, raw, rude, fantastical, absurd, insolent, indiscreet, ill-composed, indigested, vain, scurrile, idle, dull, and dry; I confess all ('tis partly affected), thou canst not think worse of me than I do of myself. 'Tis not worth the reading, I yield it, I desire thee not to lose time in perusing so vain a subject, I should be peradventure loath myself to read him or thee so writing; 'tis not _operae, pretium_. All I say is this, that I have [105]precedents for it, which Isocrates calls _perfugium iis qui peccant_, others as absurd, vain, idle, illiterate, &c. _Nonnulli alii idem fecerunt_; others have done as much, it may be more, and perhaps thou thyself, _Novimus et qui te_, &c. We have all our faults; _scimus, et hanc, veniaim_, &c.; [106]thou censurest me, so have I done others, and may do thee, _Cedimus inque vicem_, &c., 'tis _lex talionis, quid pro quo_. Go now, censure, criticise, scoff, and rail.

[107] "Nasutus cis usque licet, sis denique nasus: Non potes in nugas dicere plura meas, Ipse ego quam dixi, &c."

"Wert thou all scoffs and flouts, a very Momus, Than we ourselves, thou canst not say worse of us."

Thus, as when women scold, have I cried wh.o.r.e first, and in some men's censures I am afraid I have overshot myself, _Laudare se vani, vituperare stulti_, as I do not arrogate, I will not derogate. _Primus vestrum non sum, nec imus_, I am none of the best, I am none of the meanest of you. As I am an inch, or so many feet, so many parasangs, after him or him, I may be peradventure an ace before thee. Be it therefore as it is, well or ill, I have essayed, put myself upon the stage; I must abide the censure, I may not escape it. It is most true, _stylus virum arguit_, our style bewrays us, and as [108]hunters find their game by the trace, so is a man's genius descried by his works, _Multo melius ex sermone quam lineamentis, de moribus hominum judicamus_; it was old Cato's rule. I have laid myself open (I know it) in this treatise, turned mine inside outward: I shall be censured, I doubt not; for, to say truth with Erasmus, _nihil morosius hominum judiciis_, there is nought so peevish as men's judgments; yet this is some comfort, _ut palata, sic judicia_, our censures are as various as our palates.

[109] "Tres mihi convivae prope dissentire videntur, Poscentes vario multum diversa palato," &c.

"Three guests I have, dissenting at my feast, Requiring each to gratify his taste With different food."

Our writings are as so many dishes, our readers guests, our books like beauty, that which one admires another rejects; so are we approved as men's fancies are inclined. _Pro captu lectoris habent sua fata libelli._. That which is most pleasing to one is _amarac.u.m sui_, most harsh to another.

_Quot homines, tot sententiae_, so many men, so many minds: that which thou condemnest he commends. [110]_Quod petis, id sane est invisum acidumque duobus_. He respects matter, thou art wholly for words; he loves a loose and free style, thou art all for neat composition, strong lines, hyperboles, allegories; he desires a fine frontispiece, enticing pictures, such as [111]Hieron. Natali the Jesuit hath cut to the Dominicals, to draw on the reader's attention, which thou rejectest; that which one admires, another explodes as most absurd and ridiculous. If it be not point blank to his humour, his method, his conceit, [112]_si quid, forsan omissum, quod is animo conceperit, si quae dictio_, &c. If aught be omitted, or added, which he likes, or dislikes, thou art _mancipium paucae lectionis_, an idiot, an a.s.s, _nullus es_, or _plagiarius_, a trifler, a trivant, thou art an idle fellow; or else it is a thing of mere industry, a collection without wit or invention, a very toy. [113]_Facilia sic putant omnes quae jam facta, nec de salebris cogitant, ubi via strata_; so men are valued, their labours vilified by fellows of no worth themselves, as things of nought, who could not have done as much. _Unusquisque abundat sensu suo_, every man abounds in his own sense; and whilst each particular party is so affected, how should one please all?

[114] "Quid dem? quid non dem? Renuis tu quod jubet ille."

------"What courses must I choose?

What not? What both would order you refuse."

How shall I hope to express myself to each man's humour and [115]conceit, or to give satisfaction to all? Some understand too little, some too much, _qui similiter in legendos libros, atque in salutandos homines irruunt, non cogitantes quales, sed quibus vestibus induti sint_, as [116]Austin observes, not regarding what, but who write, [117]_orexin habet auctores celebritas_, not valuing the metal, but stamp that is upon it, _Cantharum aspiciunt, non quid in eo_. If he be not rich, in great place, polite and brave, a great doctor, or full fraught with grand t.i.tles, though never so well qualified, he is a dunce; but, as [118]Baronius hath it of Cardinal Caraffa's works, he is a mere hog that rejects any man for his poverty.