1802.] . CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. 209 



John Parkinson, was not unmolested by the strife of tongues. He 

 had probably heard, prior to the publication of his great work,, 

 disparaging remarks both on his social rank and his qualifica- 

 tions, and, like a prudent man, disregarded them as the pitiful 

 effusions of spiteful envy. But in his preface he manfully re- 

 peWed the insinuations urged against the purity of his motives, 

 and the objections made to the method ^vhich he purposed to 

 adopt. He acted like a man conscious of good intentions, as one 

 who could appeal to his labours to prove that he had taken pains 

 to realize his purposes; and bravely anticipated and repelled the 

 malicious, disparaging innuendos of his envious detractors. 



On this subject (detraction) he continued, " One bout more 

 with Momus (the personification of fault-finders), that would 

 teare this worke in pieces because I have not followed Gerard's 

 method in setting letters to the several virtues of the plants, 

 etc. ... I verily say imto you (the reader), that by the alte- 

 ration you enjoy a double benefit ; first in the bulke of the book, 

 which, if that course had been followed, would have enlarged it 

 ncare halfe as much more, and made it the more unwieldy, and 

 likewise the dearer, and never a whit the better. Secondly, in 

 recompense of the time spent in looking for what you seek, you 

 may reade that which may be more helpeful and more beneficial 

 to you. Let Momus' chaps therefore be sowed (sewed) up to 

 barke no more." 



Parkinson knew that the best-devised schemes, however 

 honestly and laboriously carried out, are not always successful ; 

 but he conscientiously appeals to his long practice and his dili- 

 gence in consulting the learned works of his contemporaries and 

 predecessors, as a proof that he had not been negligent in pre- 

 paring his materials. 



Possibly his rivals jeered hira about the length of time his 

 work had been on the anvil. The process of incubation had been 

 going on for probably above half a century. Waggish and 

 waspish people, who delight in the ignoble work of ingeniously 

 tormenting, might say, " the egg is addled." To these facetious 

 calumniators, he, Parkinson, properly rejoined, '^ Master John- 

 son's agility could easily wade through it [Gerard's Herbal, 

 which was done in a short space], and his younger yearcs carry 

 away great burdens, for, saith he, ' heavy taskes are Avorst borne 

 by them that are least able,' but his quicke speede may conclude 



N. S. VOL. VT. 3 E 



