some co-operating advancers, that might have performed it to the life, and added authority thereto; which the privacy of our condition, and unequal abilities cannot expect. Whereby notwithstanding we have not been diverted; nor have our solitary attempts been so discouraged, as to despair the favourable look of learning upon our single and unsupported endeavours. Nor have we let fall our pen upon discouragement of contradiction, unbelief, and difficulty of dissuasion from radicated beliefs, and points of high prescription; although we are very sensible how hardly teaching years do learn, what roots old age contracteth unto errors, and how such as are but acorns in our younger brows grow oaks in our elder heads, and become inflexible unto the powerfullest arm of reason. Although we have also beheld, what cold requitals others have found in their several redemptions of truth; and how their ingenuous enquiries have been dismissed with censure, and obloquy of singularities.2 * Some consideration we hope from the course of our profession, which though it leadeth us into many truths that pass undiscerned by others, yet doth it disturb their communications, and much interrupt the office of our pens in their well-intended transmissions. And therefore surely in this work attempts will exceed performances; it being composed by snatches of time, as medical vacations, and the fruitless importunity of uroscopy would permit us. And therefore also, perhaps it hath not found that regular and constant style, those infallible experiments, and those assured determinations, which the subject sometime requireth, and might be expected from others, whose quiet doors and unmolested hours afford no such distractions. Although whoever shall indifferently perpend the exceeding difficulty, which either the obscurity of the subject or unavoidable paradoxology must often put upon the attemptor, he will easily discern a work of this nature is not to be performed upon one legg; and should smell of oyle, if duly and deservedly handled. Although we have also beheld, &c.] Nota justam Doctoris querimoniam.- Wr. 3 fruitless importunity, &c.] See book i. chap. 3. Our first intentions, considering the common interest of truth, resolved to propose it unto the Latin republick and equal judges of Europe, but, owing in the first place this service unto our country, and therein especially unto its ingenuous gentry, we have declared ourselves in a language best conceived. Although I confess the quality of the subject will sometime carry us into expressions beyond mere English apprehensions. And, indeed, if elegancy still proceedeth, and English pens maintain that stream we have of late observed to flow from many, we shall, within few years, be fain to learn Latin to understand English, and a work will prove of equal facility in either.5 Nor have we addressed our pen or style unto the people, (whom books do not redress, and [who] are this way incapable of reduction,) but unto the knowing and leading part of learning. As well understanding (at least probably hoping) except they be watered from higher regions, and fructifying meteors of knowledge, these weeds must lose their alimental sap, and wither of themselves. Whose conserving influence could our endeavours prevent, we should trust the rest unto the scythe of time, and hopeful dominion of truth. We hope it will not be unconsidered, that we find no open tract, or constant manuduction in 'this labyrinth, but are ofttimes fain to wander in the America and untravelled parts of truth.6 For though, not many years past, Dr. Primrose hath made a learned discourse of Vulgar Errors in Physick, yet have we discussed but two or three thereof. 4 expressions beyond, &c.] That our naturall English consistes for the moste parte of monosyllables, as appeares by the names of all creatures in our tounge and all our actions, and in all the parts of our bodye, except such things as wee have borrowed from other nations. Scarce one word of ten, in our common talke, is of more than one syllable. In this very shorte note which conteynes sixty words, there bee not above eleven (and those of Latin derivation) which are not (all of them) monosyllables.-Wr. 5 we shall within, &c.] To which desirable end, it must be confessed, Browne has, in this work, used his best endeavours.-Crossley, in London Mag. vol. iv. p. 436. America, &c.] Little more than 150 years had elapsed since the discovery of America, of which many parts were still untravelled and unknown.-Br. 7 Dr. Primrose hath made, &c.] The work here alluded to is the De Vulgi Erroribus in Medicina, of which there is a translation into French, Scipio Mercurii hath also left an excellent tract in Italian, concerning Popular Errors; but, confining himself only unto those in physick, he hath little conduced unto the generality of our doctrine.8 Laurentius Joubertus,9 by the same title, led our expectation into thoughts of great 'relief; whereby notwithstanding, we reaped no advantage, it answering scarce at all the promise of the inscription. Nor perhaps (if it were yet extant), should we find any further assistance from that ancient piece of Andreas,*1 pretending the same title. And, therefore, we are often constrained to stand alone against the strength of opinion, and to meet the Goliah and giant of authority, with contemptible pebbles and feeble arguments, drawn from the scrip and slender stock of ourselves. Nor have we, indeed, scarce named any author whose name we do not honour; and if detraction could invite us, discretion surely would contain us from any derogatory intention, where highest pens and friendliest eloquence must fail in commendation. And therefore also we cannot but hope the equitable con * περὶ τῶν ψευδῶς πεπιστευμένων, Athenæi, lib. 7. by Rostagny, and another into English, by Dr. Wittie; the latter was published in 8vo. in 1651. Dr. James Primrose, the author, who wrote several other medical treatises, likewise in Latin, was the son of Gilbert Primrose, or Primerose, D.D., a Scotch divine, minister of the French church in London, and chaplain to James I. He practised at Paris for some time and afterwards settled in Yorkshire.—Br. 8 Scipio Mercurii, &c.] Not mentioned in the first edition. "Degli errori popolari d'Italia," 1603, by Girolamo Mercurii, who had assumed the name of Scipio, when travelling through Europe as a physician, after having thrown aside the religious habit of the Dominicans. This work is a verbose but amusing performance, containing much curious information relative to the opinions and customs of the period at which it was published, and usefully correcting many errors, though it inculcates others of equal magnitude.-Br. 9 Laurentius Joubertus, &c.] The Erreurs populaires touchant la Médecine, of Laurent Joubert, first published at Bourdeaux, in 1579, is the most distinguished of all the works of that celebrated medical professor. It obtained immediate popularity, being reprinted ten times in six months. The levity of its style, and the nature of some of the subjects discussed in it, appear to have contributed in a great degree to its popularity.-Br. Andreas.] Nothing appears to be known of this work of Andreas, who was himself a physician, besides this reference to it by Athenæus. Concerning the author, see Fabricius' Elenchus Medicorum Veterum; Biblioth. Græc. vol. xiii. p. 57.—Br. siderations, and candour of reasonable minds. We cannot expect the frown of theology herein; nor can they which behold the present state of things,2 and controversy of points so long received in divinity, condemn our sober enquiries in the doubtful appertinences of arts, and receptaries of philosophy. Surely philologers and critical discoursers, who look beyond the shell and obvious exteriours of things, will not be angry with our narrower explorations. And we cannot doubt, our brothers in physick (whose knowledge in naturals will lead them into a nearer apprehension of many things delivered) will friendly accept, if not countenance, our endeavours. Nor can we conceive it may be unwelcome unto those honoured worthies who endeavour the advancement of learning; as being likely to find a clearer progression, when so many rubs are levelled, and many untruths taken off, which passing as principles with common beliefs, disturb the tranquillity of axioms which otherwise might be raised. And wise men cannot but know, that arts and learning want this expurgation; and if the course of truth be permitted unto itself, like that of time and uncorrected computations, it cannot escape many errors, which duration still enlargeth. Lastly, we are not magisterial in opinions, nor have we dictator-like obtruded our conceptions; but, in the humility of inquiries or disquisitions, have only proposed them unto more ocular discerners. And therefore opinions are free; and open it is for any to think or declare the contrary. And we shall so far encourage contradiction, as to promise no disturbance, or re-oppose any pen, that shall fallaciously or captiously refute us; that shall only lay hold of our lapses, single out digressions, corollaries, or ornamental conceptions, to evidence his own in as indifferent truths. And shall only take notice of such, whose experimental and judicious knowledge shall solemnly look upon it; not only to destroy of ours, 2 present state, &c.] Written in 1645. 3 time, &c.] Dean Wren, in a long note on this passage, proposes methods of correcting the calendar: but as the correction has long ago been made, the interest of the note appears to me scarcely to equal its length; I have therefore omitted it. dictator-like, &c.] Ut Julius Cæsar Scaliger in literis dictaturam arripuit.-Wr. 5 fallaciously.] Elenchically, in first edition. but to establish of his own; not to traduce or extenuate, but to explain and dilucidate, to add and ampliate, according to the laudable custom of the ancients in their sober promotions of learning. Unto whom notwithstanding, we shall not contentiously rejoin, or only to justify our own, but to applaud or confirm his maturer assertions; and shall confer what is in us unto his name and honour: ready to be swallowed in any worthy enlarger;-as having acquired our end, if any way, or under any name, we may obtain a work, so much desired, and yet desiderated, of truth. THOMAS BROWNE. READERS, THE POSTCRIPT.7 To inform you of the advantages of the present impression, and disabuse your expectations of any future enlargements; these are to advertise you, that this edition comes forth with very many explanations, additions, and alterations throughout, besides that of one entire chapter; and now this work is compleat and perfect, expect no further additions. 6 desired and yet desiderated, &c.] The first edition reads, "desired, at least desiderated." Dean Wren in the margin asks, "What's the difference?" By collectors, everything which they do not possess is classed among desiderata, whether desirable for its rarity or not: Browne evidently meant to say, that his work was at least among the desiderata of literature, if not desired or desirable. 7 POSTCRIPT.] To the sixth edition: the last published in the author's life. |