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Anatomie of Wit, in four sections, members, subsections, &c. to be read in our Libraries.

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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 busie to avoid melancholy. There is no greater cause of melancholy then idlenesse, no better cure than businesse,' as Rhasis holds, and howbeit, stultus labor est ineptiarum, to be busie din toyes 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 my self in this playing labour, otiosaq; diligentiá ut vitarem torporem feriandi with Vectius in Macrobius, atq; otium in utile verterem negotium.

"YSimul & jucunda & idonea dicere vitæ,

Lectorem delectando simul atque monendo."

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To this end I write, like them, saith Lucian, that "recite to trees, and declaim to pillars for want of auditors :" as Paulus Ægineta ingenuously confesseth, "not that any thing 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 shew myself (Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter). I might be of Thucydides' opinion, "to know a thing and not to expresse it, is all one as if he knew it not." When I first took this task in hand, & quod ait ille, impellente genio negotium suscepi, this I aimed at; vel ut lenirem animum scribendo, to ease my minde by writing; for I had gravidum cor, fætum caput, a kind of imposthume in my head, which I was very desirous to be unladen of, and could imagin 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 maladie, shall I say my Mistress "melancholy," my Ægeria, or my malus genius? and for that cause, as he that is stung with a scorpion, I would expel clavum clavo, comfort one sorrow with another, idlenes with idlenes, ut ex viperá Theriacum, make an Antidote out of that which was the prime cause of my disease. Or as he did, of whom Felix Plater speaks, that thought he had some of Aristophanes' frogs in his belly, still crying Brecc, ckex, coax, coax, oop, oop, and for that cause studied physic seven years, and travelled

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* Cont. 1. 4. c. 9. Non est cura melior quàm labor. y Hor. • Non quod de novo quid addere, aut à veteribus prætermissum, sed propriæ exercitationis Qui novit, neque id quod sentit exprimit, perinde est ac si nesciret. Jovius Præf. Hist. • Erasmus. d Otium otio dolorem dolore sum solatus. f Oservat. 1. 1.

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over most part of Europe to ease himself. To do my self good I turned over such physicians as our libraries would afford, or my 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 daughters departure, if it be his at least, or some impostors put out in his name, which Lipsius probably suspects. Concerning my self, I can peradventure affirm with Marius in Sallust, that which others hear or reade of, I felt and practised my self; they get their knowledge by books, I mine by melancholízing." Experto crede Roberto. Something I can speak out of experience, ærumnabilis experientia me docuit; and with her in the Poet, Haud ignara mali miseris succurrere disco; I would help others out of a fellow-feeling; and, as that vertuous Lady did of old," 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

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Yea, but you will infer that this is actum agere, an unnecessary work, cramben bis coctam apponere, the same again and again in other words. To what purpose?"m Nothing is omitted that may well be said," so thought Lucian in the like theam. How many excellent physitians have written just Volumes and elaborate tracts of this subject? No news here; that which I have is stoln from others, " Dicitque mihi mea pagina fur es. If that severe doom of Synesius be true, "it is a greater offence to steal dead mens labours, than their clothes," what shall become of most Writers? I hold up my hand at the bar among others, and am guilty of felonie in this kinde, habes confitentem reum, I am content to be pressed with the rest. 'Tis most true, tenet insanabile multos scribendi cacoéthes, and "Pthere is no end of writing of books," as the Wise-man found of old, in this scribling age, especially wherein "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 shew himself, 'desirous of fame and honour (scribimus indocti doctique.) he will write no matter what, and scrape together it boots not whence.

struxit.

M. Joh. Rous, our Protobib. Oxon. M. Hopper, M. Guthridge, &c. h Quæ illi audire & legere solent, eorum partim vidi egomet, alia gessi, quæ illi literis, ego militando didici, nunc vos existimate facta an dicta pluris sint. i Dido Virg. *Camden, Ipsa elephantiasi correpta elephantiasis hospicium conIliada post Homerum. In Nihil prætermissum quod à quovis dici D Martialis. • Magis impium mortuorum lucubrationes, quàm vestes furari. Eccl. ult. 9 Libros Eunuchi gignunt, steriles pariunt. D. King præfat. lect. Jonas the late right reverend Lord B. of London. Homines famelici gloriæ ad ostentationem eruditionis undique congerunt. Buchananus. 66 Bewitched

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*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," "and get themselves a name," saith Scaliger, though it be to the downfall and ruine of many others." To be counted writers, scriptores ut salutentur, to be thought and held Polumathes and Polyhistors, apud imperitum vulgus ob ventos nomen artis, to get a paper-kingdom: nulla spe quæstus sed amplá fame, in this precipitate, ambitious age, nunc ut est sæculum, inter immaturam eruditionem, ambitiosum & præceps ('tis Scaligers 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 traffick, write great Tomes, Cum non sint re vera doctiores, sed loquaciores, whenas they are not thereby better scholars, but greater praters. They commonly pretend publike good, but as 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 fortasse typographi, vel ideo scribendum est aliquid ut se vixisse testentur. As Apothecaries we make new mixtures every day, pour out of one vessel into another; and as those old Romans robb'd all the cities of the world, to set out their bad sited Rome, we skim off the cream of other mens wits, pick the choice flowers of their till'd gardens to set out our own sterill plots. Castrant alios ut libros suos per se graciles alieno adipe suffurciant (so *Jovius inveighs). They lard their lean books with the fat of others works. Ineruditi fures, &c. A fault that every Writer findes, as I do now, and yet faulty themselves, Trium literarum homines, all theeves; they pilfer out of old Writers to stuffe up their new Comments, scrape Ennius dung-hils, and out of * Democritus' pit, as I have done. By which means it comes to passe, "that not only libraries and shops are full of our putid papers, but every close-stool and jakes, Scribunt carmina quæ legunt cacantes; they serve to put under pies, to lap spice in, and keep roast-meat from burning. "With us in France," saith Scaliger, "every man hath liberty to write, but few ability. Heretofore learning was graced by judicious

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Effacinati etiam laudis amore, &c. Justus Baronius. "Ex ruinis alienæ existimationis sibi gradum ad famam struunt. * Exercit. 288. * Omnes sibi famam quærunt & quovis modo in orbem spargi contendunt, ut novæ alicujus rei habeantur authores. Præf. biblioth. *Præfat hist. b Plautus. C E Demo

criti puteo. d Non tam refertæ bibliothecæ quam cloacæ. * Et quicquid cartis amicitur ineptis. 'Epist. ad. Petas. in regno Franciæ omnibus scribendi datur libertas, paucis facultas. Olim literæ ob homines in precio, nunc sordent ob homines.

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scholars, but now noble sciences are vilified by base and illiterate scriblers," that either write for vain-glory, need, to get money, or as Parasites to flatter and collogue with some great men, they put out burras, quisquiliásque ineptiasque. 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 potiùs, quàm perficitur, by which he is rather infected than any way perfected.

* 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. Cardan' finds fault with Frenchmen and Germans, for their scribling 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 ? ❝m He must have a barren wit, that in this scribling age can forge nothing. "Princes shew their armies, rich men vaunt their buildings, soldiers their manhood, and scholars vent their toyes;" they must read, they must hear whether they will or no.

"Et quodcunque semel chartis illeverit, omnes
Gestiet à furno redeuntes scire lacuque,

Et pueros & anus

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.
"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 Frank-furt
Marts, our domestick Marts brought out? Twice a year, "Pro-
ferunt se nova ingenia & ostentant, we stretch our wits out,
and set them to sale, magno conatu nihil agimus. So that
which Gesner much desires, if a speedy reformation be not
had, by some Princes Edicts and grave Supervisors, to restrain
this liberty, it will run on in infinitum. Quis tam avidus li-

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hAns. pac. Inter tot mille volumina vix unus a cujus lectione quis melior evadat, immo potius non pejor. Palingenius. Lib. 5. de sap. m Sterile oportet esse ingenium quod in hoc scripturientum pruritus, &c. n Cardan præf. ad consol. Hor. Lib. 1. Sat 4. P Epist. lib. 1. Magnum poetarum proventum annus hic attulit, mense Aprili nullus fere dies quo non aliquis recitavit. a Idem. Principibus & doctoribus deliberandum relinquo, ut arguantur authorum furta & millies repetita tollantur, & temere scribendi libido coerceatur, aliter in infinitum progressura.

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brorum helluo, who can read them? As already, we shall have a vast Chaos and confusion of Books, weare oppressed with them, our eyes ake with reading, our fingers with turning. For my part I am one of the number nos numerus sumus, I do not deny it, I have only this of Macrobius to say for my self, Omne meum, nihil meum, 'tis all mine, and none mine. As a good house-wife out of divers fleeces weaves one peece of cloth, a Bee gathers wax and honey out of many flowers, and makes a new bundel of all,

"Floriferis ut apes insaltibus omnia libant,"

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I have laboriously collected this Cento out of divers Writers, and that sine injuria, I have wronged no authors, but given every man his own; which Hierom so much commends in Nepotian; he stole not whole verses, pages, tracts, as some do now a daies, concealing their Authors names, but still said this was Cyprian's, that Lactantius, that Hillarius, so said Minutius Felix, so Victorinus, thus far Arnobius: I cite and quote mine authors (which, howsoever some illiterate scriblers account pedantical, as a cloke of ignorance, and opposite to their affected fine stile, I must and will use) sumpsi, non surripui; and what Varro Lib. 6. de re rust. speaks of Bees, minimè malefice nullius opus vellicantes faciunt deterius, I can say of my self, Whom have I injured? The matter is theirs most part, and yet mine, apparet unde sumptum sit (which Seneca approves), aliud tamen quà munde sumptum sit apparet, which nature doth with the aliment of our bodies incorporate, digest, assimulate, I do conquoquere 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 & Wecker è 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 shews a Scholar. Oribasius, sius, Avicenna, have all out of Galen, but to their own method, diverso stilo, non diversá fide, our Poets steal from Homer; he spews, saith Ælian, 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 ætas Postera sorsque ferat melior."

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• Onerabuntur ingenia, nemo legendis sufficit. d Libris obruimur, oculi lcgendo, manus volitando dolent. Fam. Strada Momo. Lucretius. • Quicquid ubique bene dictum facio meum, & illud nunc meis ad compendium, nunc ad fidem & authoritatem alienis exprimo verbis, omnes authores meos clientes esse arbitror, &c. Sarisburiensis ad Polycrat. prol. f In Epitaph. Nep. illud Cyp. hoc Lact. illud Hilar. est, Ita Victorinus, in hunc modum loquutus est Arnobius, &c. Præf. ad Syntax. med.

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