THE DOCTOR, _&c._
There is a kind of physiognomy in the titles of books no less than in
the faces of men, by which a skilful observer will as well know what
to expect from the one as the other.
BUTLER'S REMAINS.
THE DOCTOR, _&c._
[Illustration: a tetrahedron]
VOL. V.
LONDON:
LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN AND LONGMAN.
1838.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY W. NICOL, PALL-MALL.
PRELUDE OF MOTTOES.
See here, see here, a Doctor rare,
Who travels much at home;
Come take his pills,—they cure all ills,
Past, present, and to come.
Take a little of his nif-naf,
Put it on your tif-taf.
THE BISHOPRICK GARLAND.
_Quod virgo proba, quod stolata mater,
Quod purus positâ severitate
Jam post pulpita perlegat sacerdos._
T. L. ON SIR WM. KILLIGREW'S SELINDRA.
I entered on this work certainly with considerable materials, and
since engaging in it, in reading, in thinking, in correcting and
improving, I have proportioned my labours to my undertaking. Every
step I advanced, I did but more clearly see how much farther I might
go. Here too readers and some writers may be reminded of the effect
produced by finding a pleasure in your employment, some burdens are
sweet; you lose the sense of weight by the deceptions of fancy and
occasional rests; and in proportion as your journey becomes more
agreeable, you are in danger of growing more dilatory.
GEORGE DYER.
_Si tu tombes entre les mains de ceux qui ne voyent rien d'autruy que
pour y trouver sujet de s'y desplaire, et qu'ils te reprochent que ton
Docteur est ennuyeux; responds leur qu'il est à leur choix de lui voir
ou ne lui voir point.—Si tu te trouves parmy ceux qui font profession
d'interpreter les songes, et descouvrir les pensées plus secrettes
d'autruy, et qu'ils asseurent que * * est un tel homme et * * une
telle femme; ne leur respond rien; car ils sçavent assez qu'ils ne
sçavent pas ce qu'ils disent: mais supplie ceux qui pourroient estre
abusez de leurs fictions, de considerer que si ces choses ne
m'importent, j'aurois eu bien peu d'esprit de les avoir voulu
dissimuler et ne l'avoir sceu faire. Que si en ce qu'ils diront, il
n'y a guere d'apparence, il ne les faut pas croire; et s'il y'en a
beaucoup, il faut penser que pour couvrir la chose que je voulois
tenir cachée et ensevelie, je l'eusse autrement desguisée._
ASTRÉE—MUTATIS MUTANDIS.
I would not be in danger of that law of Moses, that if a man dig a pit
and cover it not, he must recompense those which are damnified by it;
which is often interpreted of such as shake old opinions, and do not
establish new as certain, but leave consciences in a worse danger than
they found them in. I believe that law of Moses hath in it some
mystery and appliableness; for by that law men are only then bound to
that indemnity and compensation, if an ox or an ass, (that is such as
are of a strong constitution and accustomed to labour) fall therein;
but it is not said so, if a sheep or a goat fall: no more are we if
men in a silliness or wantonness will stumble or take a scandal, bound
to rectify them at all times. And therefore because I justly presume
you strong and watchful enough, I make account that I am not obnoxious
to that law; since my meditations are neither too wide nor too deep
for you.
DONNE'S LETTERS.
Such an author consulted in a morning sets the spirits for the
vicissitudes of the day, better than the glass does a man's person.
SIR RICHARD STEELE.
The Load-stone of Attraction I find out,
The Card of Observation guides about,
The Needle of Discretion points the way.
DUTCHESS OF NEWCASTLE.
—_βροτοὶ παύσασθε μάταιοι.
Ῥεμβομενοι σκοτίη και ἀφεγγέϊ νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ·
Καὶ λίΠετε σκοτίην νυκτὸς, φωτὸς δὲ λάβεσθε·
Οὗτος ἰδοὺ παντεσσι σαφὴς, ἀπλάνητος ὑπάρχει.
Ἐλθετε, μὴ σκοτίην δὲ διώκετε, καὶ γνόφον αἰεί·
Ἠελίȣ γλυκυδερκὲς ἰδοὺ φάος ἔξοχα λάμπει._
SIBYLLINE VERSES.
Of things that be strange
Who loveth to read
In this book let him range
His fancy to feed.
RICHARD ROBINSON.
_At ego tibi sermone isto—
Varias fabulas conseram, auresque tuas
Benevolus lepido susurro permulceam._
APULEIUS.
Whoso doth attempt the Author's works to read
Must bring with him a stayed head, and judgement to proceed;
For as there be most wholesome hests and precepts to be found,
So are there rocks and shallow shelves to run the ship aground.
ARTHUR GOLDING.
I am studying the art of patience:—to drive six snails before me from
this town to Moscow, neither use goad nor whip to them, but let them
take their own time. The patientest man i' the world match me for an
experiment!
WEBSTER.
He says and he says not, cares and he cares not, he's king and he's no
king; his high-born soul is above this sublunary world; he reigns, he
rides in the clouds and keeps his court in the Horizon: he's Emperor
of the Superlative Heights, and lives in pleasure among the Gods; he
plays at bowls with the Stars, and makes a foot-ball of the Globe; he
makes that to fly far, far out of the reach of Thought.
HURLOTHRUMBO.
_Lo libres fo be faitz, e de bos motz complit;
E sil voletz entendre, li gran e li petit
Podon i mot apendre de sen e de bel dit;
Car aisel qui le fe nal ventre tot farsit,
E sel que nol conoish, ni nol a resentit.
Ja no so cujaria._
CANSOS DE LA CROZADA
CONTR ELS EREGES DALBREGES.
Something oddly
The book-man prated; yet he talked it weeping.
FORD.
We content ourselves to present to thinking minds, the original seeds
from whence spring vast fields of new theories, that may be further
cultivated, beautified and enlarged. Truth however being of a coherent
nature, it is impossible to separate one branch from another and see
it in all its beauty. I beg therefore my readers not to judge of the
work by parcels, but to continue to the end, that so they may see the
connection of every part with the whole. Scattered rays do not always
enlighten; but when reunited they give a mutual lustre to each other.
THE CHEVALIER RAMSAY.
I must be allowed my freedom in my studies, for I substitute my
writings for a game at the tennis-court or a club at the tavern. I
never counted among my honours these _opuscula_ of mine, but merely as
harmless amusements. It is my partridge, as with St. John; my Cat, as
with Pope St. Gregory; my little dog, as with St. Dominic; my lamb, as
with St. Francis; (my pig, he might have said as with St. Antony,) my
great black mastiff as with Cornelius Agrippa; and my tame hare, as
with Justus Lipsius.
CATHERINOT.
_As quoted and translated by_ D'ISRAELI.
To ignorants obdurde, quhair wilfull errour lyis,
Nor zit to curious folks, quhilks carping dois deject thee,
Nor zit to learned men, quha thinks thame onelie wyis,
But to the docile bairns of knowledge I direct thee.
JAMES 1st.
Albeit I have studied much and learned little, yet I have learned to
glean some handfulls of corn out of the rankest cockle; to make choice
of the most fragrant flowers of humanity, the most virtuous herbs of
philosophy, the most sovereign fruits of government, and the most
heavenly manna of divinity; to be acquainted with the fairest,
provided for the foulest, delighted with the temperatest, pleased with
the meanest, and contented with all weather—greater men may profess
and can achieve greater matters: I thank God I know the length, that
is the shortness of my own foot. If it be any man's pleasure to
extenuate my sufficiency in other knowledge, or practise to empeach my
ability in words or deeds, to debase my fortune, to abridge my
commendations, or to annihilate my fame, he shall find a cold
adversary of him that hath laid hot passions awatering, and might
easily be induced to be the invective of his own non proficiency.
GABRIEL HARVEY.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER CXXXVII.—p. 1.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN THE DOCTOR AND NICHOLAS CONCERNING THE
HIPPOGONY, OR ORIGIN OF THE FOAL DROPT IN THE PRECEDING CHAPTER.
———his birth day, the eleventh of June
When the Apostle Barnaby the bright
Unto our year doth give the longest light.
BEN JONSON.