Discoveries and Some Poems | Page 4

in some things I dissent from
others, whose wit, industry, diligence, and judgment, I look up at and
admire, let me not therefore hear presently of ingratitude and rashness.

For I thank those that have taught me, and will ever; but yet dare not
think the scope of their labour and inquiry was to envy their posterity
what they also could add and find out.
Non mihi credendum sed veritati.--If I err, pardon me: Nulla ars simul
et inventa est et absoluta. {19c} I do not desire to be equal to those that
went before; but to have my reason examined with theirs, and so much
faith to be given them, or me, as those shall evict. I am neither author
nor fautor of any sect. I will have no man addict himself to me; but if I
have anything right, defend it as Truth's, not mine, save as it conduceth
to a common good. It profits not me to have any man fence or fight for
me, to flourish, or take my side. Stand for truth, and 'tis enough.
Scientiae liberales.--Arts that respect the mind were ever reputed nobler
than those that serve the body, though we less can be without them, as
tillage, spinning, weaving, building, &c., without which we could
scarce sustain life a day. But these were the works of every hand; the
other of the brain only, and those the most generous and exalted wits
and spirits, that cannot rest or acquiesce. The mind of man is still fed
with labour: Opere pascitur.
Non vulgi sunt.--There is a more secret cause, and the power of liberal
studies lies more hid than that it can be wrought out by profane wits. It
is not every man's way to hit. There are men, I confess, that set the
carat and value upon things as they love them; but science is not every
man's mistress. It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place,
and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.
Honesta ambitio.--If divers men seek fame or honour by divers ways,
so both be honest, neither is to be blamed; but they that seek
immortality are not only worthy of love, but of praise.
Maritus improbus.--He hath a delicate wife, a fair fortune, a family to
go to and be welcome; yet he had rather be drunk with mine host and
the fiddlers of such a town, than go home.
Afflictio pia magistra.--Affliction teacheth a wicked person some time
to pray: prosperity never.
Deploratis facilis descensus Averni.--The devil take all.--Many might
go to heaven with half the labour they go to hell, if they would venture
their industry the right way; but "The devil take all!" quoth he that was
choked in the mill-dam, with his four last words in his mouth.
AEgidius cursu superat.--A cripple in the way out-travels a footman or

a post out of the way.
Prodigo nummi nauci.--Bags of money to a prodigal person are the
same that cherry-stones are with some boys, and so thrown away.
Munda et sordida.--A woman, the more curious she is about her face is
commonly the more careless about her house.
Debitum deploratum.--Of this spilt water there is a little to be gathered
up: it is a desperate debt.
Latro sesquipedalis.--The thief {22} that had a longing at the gallows to
commit one robbery more before he was hanged.
And like the German lord, when he went out of Newgate into the cart,
took order to have his arms set up in his last herborough: said was he
taken and committed upon suspicion of treason, no witness appearing
against him; but the judges entertained him most civilly, discoursed
with him, offered him the courtesy of the rack; but he confessed, &c.
Calumniae fructus.--I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so
endeavoured and taken pains to belie me. It shall make me set a surer
guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions.
Impertinens.--A tedious person is one a man would leap a steeple from,
gallop down any steep lull to avoid him; forsake his meat, sleep, nature
itself, with all her benefits, to shun him. A mere impertinent; one that
touched neither heaven nor earth in his discourse. He opened an entry
into a fair room, but shut it again presently. I spoke to him of garlic, he
answered asparagus; consulted him of marriage, he tells me of hanging,
as if they went by one and the same destiny.
Bellum scribentium.--What a sight it is to see writers committed
together by the ears for ceremonies, syllables, points, colons, commas,
hyphens, and the like, fighting as for their fires and their altars; and
angry that none are frighted at their noises and loud brayings under
their