Page:The anatomy of melancholy - vvhat it is, vvith all the kindes, causes, symptomes, prognostickes, and severall cures of it - in three maine partitions with their seuerall sections (IA anatomyofmelanch00burt 2).pdf/11



Entle Reader, I preume thou wilt be very inquiitiue to knowe what peronate Actor this is, that o inolently intrudes vpon this common Theater, to the worlds view, arrogating another mans name, whence hee is, why he doth it, and what hee hath to ay? Although, as $a$ hee aid, I am free borne, and may chue whether I will tell, who can compell me? And could here readily reply with that Ægyptian in $a$ Plutarch, when a curious fellowe would needs knowe what he had in his basket, it was therefore couered becaue he hould not knowe what was in it. Seeke not after that which is hid, if the contents pleae thee, $b$ and bee for thy ve, uppoe the man in the Moone, or whom thou wilt to bee the Author; I would not willingly be knowne. Yet in ome ort to giue thee atisfaction, which is more than I need, I will giue a reaon, both of this vurped Name, Title, and Subiect. And firt of the name of Democritus, leat any man by reaon of it hould be deceaued, expecting a Paquill, a Satyre, or ome ridiculous Treatie (as I my elfe hould haue done) or ome prodigious Tenent, or paradox of the earths motion, of infinite worlds in an infinite wat, o caued by an accidentall colliion of motes in the Sunne, all which Democritus held, Epicurus and their mater Leucippus of old maintained, and are lately Rh