And if in these _Labours_, and arduous _Attempts_, several _Inventions_ of present use and service to _Mankind_ (either detecting _Errors_, illustrating and asserting _Truths_, or propagating _Knowledge_ in _natural things_, and the visible _Works_ of _God_) have been discover'd, as they _envy_ not the _communicating_ them to the _World_; so should they be _wanting_ to the _Society_, and to the _Honour_ of divers _Learned_ and _Ingenious Persons_, (who are the _Soul_ and _Body_ of it) not to vindicate them from the ambitious _Plagiary_, the Insults of _Scoffers_ and injurious Men: Certainly, Persons of right _Noble_ and subacted _Principles_, that were _Lovers_ of their _Country_, should be otherwise affected; and rather strive to _encourage_, and promote Endeavours tending to so _generous_ a _Design_, than decry it; especially, when it costs them nothing but their _Civility_ to so many _obliging Persons_, though they should hitherto have entertain'd them but with some innocent _Diversions_.

To conclude, we _envy_ none their _Dues_; nay we gratefully _acknowledge_ any _Light_ which we receive either from _Home_, or from _Abroad_: We _celebrate_ and _record_ their _Names_ amongst our _Benefactors_; recommend them to the _Publique_; and what we thus _freely give_, we hope as _freely_ to _receive_.
Thus have I endeavour'd to _Vindicate_ the _Royal Society_ from some _Aspersions_ and _Incroachments_ it hitherto has suffer'd; and shew'd under what _Weights_ and _Pressure_ this _Palm_ does still emerge: And if for all this I fall short of my _Attempt_, I shall yet have this satisfaction, That tho I derive no _Glory_ from my own _Abilities_ (sensible of my great _Defects_) I shall yet _deserve_ their _pardon_ for my _Zeal_ to its _Prosperity_.
_Epictetus_, +kth+.
+Philosophias epithymeis; paraskeuazou autothen+, &c.
Wouldst thou be a _Philosopher_; Prepare thy self for _Scoffs_: What, you are setting up for a _Virtuoso_ now?
Why so proud I pray?
Well, be not thou proud for all this; But so persist in what seems _best_ and _laudable_; as if _God_ himself had plac'd thee there; and _remember_, that so long as thou _remain'st_ in that _State_ and _Resolution_, thy _Reproachers_ will in time _admire_ thee: But if once through _Inconstancy_ thou _give out_ & _flinch_, +diploun proslepse katagelota+, Thou _deservest_ to be doubly _laugh'd_ at.
Lord _Verulam_, Instaur.

Scient.
Some Men (like _Lucian_ in _Religion_) seek by their _Wit_, to _traduce_ and _expose useful things_; because to arrive at them, they converse with _mean Experiments_: But those who _despise_ to be _employ'd_ in _ordinary_ and _common matters_, never arrive to _solid Perfection_ in _Experimental Knowledge_.
* * * * * The changes and _Alterations_ in the several _Chapters_ and Parts throughout this _Discourse_, with the _Additions_ and _Improvements_, have often oblig'd me to alter the _Method_, and indeed to make it almost a _New Work_.
_J.

Evelyn._ FOOTNOTES: {lxxviii:1} See _Petrarch de Remed.

utriusque fortunae L.1.Dial.