Page:Anatomy of Melancholy, volume 1 (1827).djvu/27

 DEMOCRITUS JUNIOR TO THE READER. GENTLE reader, I presume thou wilt be very inquisitive to know what antick or personate actor this is, that so in- solently intrudes, upon this common theatre, to the worlds view, arrogating another man's name, whence he is, why he doth it, and what he hath to say. Although, 1as he said, Primum si noluero, non respondebo: quis coacturus esi? (I am a free man born, and may chuse whether I will tell: who can compel me?) if I be urged, I will as readily reply as that Egyptian in 2Plutarch, when a curious fellow would needs know what he had in his basket, Quum vides velatam, quid  inquiris in rem absconditam? It was therefore covered, be- cause he should not know what was in it. Seek not after that which is hid: if the contents please thee, 3and be for thy  use, suppose the man in the moon, or whom thou wilt, to be the  author: I would not willingly be known. Yet, in some sort to give thee satisfaction, which is more than I need, I will show a reason, both of this usurped name, title, and subject. And first of the name of Democritus; lest any man, by reason of it, should be deceived, expecting a pasquil, a satyre, some ridiculous treatise (as I myself should have done), some pro- digious tenent, or paradox of the earths motion, of infinite worlds, in infinito vacuo, exfortuitd atomorum collisione, in an infinite waste, so caused by an accidental collision of motes in the sun, all which Democritus held, Epicurus and their master Leucippus of old maintained, and are lately revived by Coper- nicus, Brunus and some others. Besides, it hath been always

1Seneca, in Ludo in mortem Claudif Caesaris. 2 Lib. de Curiositale. 3 Modo haec tibi usui sint, quemvis auctorem fingito. Wecker.

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