“Quemvis perferre laborem
Suadet, et inducit noctes vigilare serenas.”
To this end I have some time since, with a world of pains and art, dissected3 the carcass of human nature, and read many useful lectures upon the several parts, both containing and contained, till at last it smelt4 so strong I could preserve it no longer. Upon which I have been at a great expense to fit up all the bones with exact contexture and in due symmetry, so that I am ready to show a very complete anatomy5 thereof to all curious gentlemen and others. But not to digress further in the midst of a digression, as I have known some authors enclose digressions in one another like a nest of boxes, I do affirm that, having carefully cut up human nature, I have found a very strange, new, and important discovery: that the public good of mankind is performed by two ways — instruction and diversion. And I have further proved my said several readings (which, perhaps, the world may one day see, if I can prevail on any friend to steal a copy, or on certain gentlemen of my admirers to be very importunate) that, as mankind is now disposed, he receives much greater advantage by being diverted than instructed, his epidemical diseases being fastidiosity, amorphy, and oscitation; whereas, in the present universal empire of wit and learning, there seems but little matter left for instruction. However, in compliance7 with a lesson of great age and authority, I have attempted carrying the point in all its heights, and accordingly throughout this divine treatise8 have skilfully10 kneaded up both together with a layer of utile and a layer of dulce.
When I consider how exceedingly our illustrious moderns have eclipsed the weak glimmering11 lights of the ancients, and turned them out of the road of all fashionable commerce to a degree that our choice town wits of most refined accomplishments12 are in grave dispute whether there have been ever any ancients or no; in which point we are like to receive wonderful satisfaction from the most useful labours and lucubrations of that worthy13 modern, Dr. Bentley. I say, when I consider all this, I cannot but bewail that no famous modern hath ever yet attempted an universal system in a small portable volume of all things that are to be known, or believed, or imagined, or practised in life. I am, however, forced to acknowledge that such an enterprise was thought on some time ago by a great philosopher of O-Brazile. The method he proposed was by a certain curious receipt, a nostrum14, which after his untimely death I found among his papers, and do here, out of my great affection to the modern learned, present them with it, not doubting it may one day encourage some worthy undertaker.
You take fair correct copies, well bound in calf’s skin and lettered at the back, of all modern bodies of arts and sciences whatsoever15, and in what language you please. These you distil16 in balneo Mariae, infusing quintessence of poppy Q.S., together with three pints17 of lethe, to be had from the apothecaries18. You cleanse19 away carefully the sordes and caput mortuum, letting all that is volatile20 evaporate. You preserve only the first running, which is again to be distilled21 seventeen times, till what remains22 will amount to about two drams. This you keep in a glass vial hermetically sealed for one-and-twenty days. Then you begin your catholic treatise, taking every morning fasting (first shaking the vial) three drops of this elixir23, snuffing it strongly up your nose. It will dilate24 itself about the brain (where there is any) in fourteen minutes, and you immediately perceive in your head an infinite number of abstracts, summaries, compendiums25, extracts, collections, medullas, excerpta quaedams, florilegias and the like, all disposed into great order and reducible upon paper.
I must needs own it was by the assistance of this arcanum that I, though otherwise impar, have adventured upon so daring an attempt, never achieved or undertaken before but by a certain author called Homer, in whom, though otherwise a person not without some abilities, and for an ancient of a tolerable genius; I have discovered many gross errors which are not to be forgiven his very ashes, if by chance any of them are left. For whereas we are assured he designed his work for a complete body of all knowledge, human, divine, political, and mechanic 49, it is manifest he hath wholly neglected some, and been very imperfect perfect in the rest. For, first of all, as eminent26 a cabalist as his disciples27 would represent him, his account of the opus magnum is extremely poor and deficient28; he seems to have read but very superficially either Sendivogus, Behmen, or Anthroposophia Theomagica 50. He is also quite mistaken about the sphaera pyroplastica, a neglect not to be atoned29 for, and (if the reader will admit so severe a censure30) vix crederem autorem hunc unquam audivisse ignis vocem. His failings are not less prominent in several parts of the mechanics. For having read his writings with the utmost application usual among modern wits, I could never yet discover the least direction about the structure of that useful instrument a save-all; for want of which, if the moderns had not lent their assistance, we might yet have wandered in the dark. But I have still behind a fault far more notorious to tax this author with; I mean his gross ignorance in the common laws of this realm, and in the doctrine31 as well as discipline of the Church of England. A defect, indeed, for which both he and all the ancients stand most justly censured32 by my worthy and ingenious friend Mr. Wotton, Bachelor of Divinity, in his incomparable treatise of ancient and modern learning; a book never to be sufficiently33 valued, whether we consider the happy turns and flowings of the author’s wit, the great usefulness of his sublime34 discoveries upon the subject of flies and spittle, or the laborious35 eloquence36 of his style. And I cannot forbear doing that author the justice of my public acknowledgments for the great helps and liftings I had out of his incomparable piece while I was penning this treatise.
But besides these omissions37 in Homer already mentioned, the curious reader will also observe several defects in that author’s writings for which he is not altogether so accountable. For whereas every branch of knowledge has received such wonderful acquirements since his age, especially within these last three years or thereabouts, it is almost impossible he could be so very perfect in modern discoveries as his advocates pretend. We freely acknowledge him to be the inventor of the compass, of gunpowder38, and the circulation of the blood; but I challenge any of his admirers to show me in all his writings a complete account of the spleen. Does he not also leave us wholly to seek in the art of political wagering39? What can be more defective40 and unsatisfactory than his long dissertation41 upon tea? and as to his method of salivation without mercury, so much celebrated42 of late, it is to my own knowledge and experience a thing very little to be relied on.
It was to supply such momentous43 defects that I have been prevailed on, after long solicitation44, to take pen in hand, and I dare venture to promise the judicious45 reader shall find nothing neglected here that can be of use upon any emergency of life. I am confident to have included and exhausted46 all that human imagination can rise or fall to. Particularly I recommend to the perusal47 of the learned certain discoveries that are wholly untouched by others, whereof I shall only mention, among a great many more, my “New Help of Smatterers, or the Art of being Deep Learned and Shallow Read,” “A Curious Invention about Mouse-traps,” “A Universal Rule of Reason, or Every Man his own Carver,” together with a most useful engine for catching48 of owls49. All which the judicious reader will find largely treated on in the several parts of this discourse50.
I hold myself obliged to give as much light as possible into the beauties and excellences51 of what I am writing, because it is become the fashion and humour most applauded among the first authors of this polite and learned age, when they would correct the ill nature of critical or inform the ignorance of courteous52 readers. Besides, there have been several famous pieces lately published, both in verse and prose, wherein if the writers had not been pleased, out of their great humanity and affection to the public, to give us a nice detail of the sublime and the admirable they contain, it is a thousand to one whether we should ever have discovered one grain of either. For my own particular, I cannot deny that whatever I have said upon this occasion had been more proper in a preface, and more agreeable to the mode which usually directs it there. But I here think fit to lay hold on that great and honourable53 privilege of being the last writer. I claim an absolute authority in right as the freshest modern, which gives me a despotic power over all authors before me. In the strength of which title I do utterly54 disapprove55 and declare against that pernicious custom of making the preface a bill of fare to the book. For I have always looked upon it as a high point of indiscretion in monstermongers and other retailers56 of strange sights to hang out a fair large picture over the door, drawn57 after the life, with a most eloquent58 description underneath59. This has saved me many a threepence, for my curiosity was fully6 satisfied, and I never offered to go in, though often invited by the urging and attending orator60 with his last moving and standing61 piece of rhetoric62, “Sir, upon my word, we are just going to begin.” Such is exactly the fate at this time of Prefaces, Epistles, Advertisements, Introductions, Prolegomenas, Apparatuses63, To the Readers’s. This expedient64 was admirable at first; our great Dryden has long carried it as far as it would go, and with incredible success. He has often said to me in confidence that the world would never have suspected him to be so great a poet if he had not assured them so frequently in his prefaces, that it was impossible they could either doubt or forget it. Perhaps it may be so. However, I much fear his instructions have edified65 out of their place, and taught men to grow wiser in certain points where he never intended they should; for it is lamentable66 to behold67 with what a lazy scorn many of the yawning readers in our age do now-a-days twirl over forty or fifty pages of preface and dedication68 (which is the usual modern stint), as if it were so much Latin. Though it must be also allowed, on the other hand, that a very considerable number is known to proceed critics and wits by reading nothing else. Into which two factions69 I think all present readers may justly be divided. Now, for myself, I profess70 to be of the former sort, and therefore having the modern inclination71 to expatiate72 upon the beauty of my own productions, and display the bright parts of my discourse, I thought best to do it in the body of the work, where as it now lies it makes a very considerable addition to the bulk of the volume, a circumstance by no means to be neglected by a skilful9 writer.
Having thus paid my due deference73 and acknowledgment to an established custom of our newest authors, by a long digression unsought for and a universal censure unprovoked, by forcing into the light, with much pains and dexterity74, my own excellences and other men’s defaults, with great justice to myself and candour to them, I now happily resume my subject, to the infinite satisfaction both of the reader and the author.
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1
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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dissected
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| adj.切开的，分割的，（叶子）多裂的v.解剖（动物等）( dissect的过去式和过去分词 )；仔细分析或研究 | |
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smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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treatise
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| n.专著；(专题)论文 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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nostrum
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| n.秘方；妙策 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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distil
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| vt.蒸馏；提取…的精华，精选出 | |
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pints
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| n.品脱( pint的名词复数 )；一品脱啤酒 | |
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apothecaries
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| n.药剂师，药店( apothecary的名词复数 ) | |
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cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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distilled
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| adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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elixir
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| n.长生不老药，万能药 | |
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dilate
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| vt.使膨胀，使扩大 | |
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compendiums
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| n.摘要，纲要( compendium的名词复数 ) | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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atoned
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| v.补偿，赎（罪）( atone的过去式和过去分词 )；补偿，弥补，赎回 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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omissions
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| n.省略( omission的名词复数 )；删节；遗漏；略去或漏掉的事（或人） | |
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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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wagering
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| v.在（某物）上赌钱，打赌( wager的现在分词 )；保证，担保 | |
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defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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dissertation
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| n.（博士学位）论文，学术演讲，专题论文 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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44
solicitation
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| n.诱惑；揽货；恳切地要求；游说 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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47
perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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51
excellences
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| n.卓越( excellence的名词复数 )；（只用于所修饰的名词后）杰出的；卓越的；出类拔萃的 | |
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52
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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54
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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disapprove
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| v.不赞成，不同意，不批准 | |
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retailers
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| 零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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apparatuses
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| n.器械； 装置； 设备； 仪器 | |
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64
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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edified
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| v.开导，启发( edify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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dedication
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| n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞 | |
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factions
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| 组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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71
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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expatiate
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| v.细说，详述 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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