Ixviii THE LIFE OF HARVEY. 



at this period was not extensive, and he seems to have passed 

 much of his time in the country. Harvey appears to have 

 been little inclined to the publication of this work, and 

 only to have ventured it out of his hands with reluctance. 

 Without the solicitations of Ent, indeed, it would certainly 

 have been left unpublished during his lifetime. Ent, however, 

 succeeded in carrying off the prize which his illustrious friend 

 had showed him, and lost no time in getting it into types, 

 taking on himself the task of correcting the press, and sending 

 it forth according to his own ideas in fitting form, with a 

 frontispiece, and a highflown dedication to the President and 

 Fellows of the College of Physicians. Ent's account of his 

 interview with Harvey on the occasion of obtaining his con- 

 sent to the publication, though highly theatrical, is still ex- 

 tremely interesting. Saluting the great anatomist, and asking 

 if all were well with him, Harvey answers, somewhat im- 

 patiently as it seems : "How can it, whilst the Common- 

 wealth is full of distractions, and I myself am still in the 

 open sea ? And truly," he continues, " did I not find solace 

 in my studies, and a balm for my spirit in the memory of my 

 observations of former years, I should feel little desire for 

 longer life." (p. 145.) Let the reader turn to the page from 

 which the above quotation is taken, and to the one which follows 

 it, for thoughts and views that clearly bespeak the greatness of 

 intellect, the nobleness of sentiment that distinguished William 

 Harvey. When Ent proceeds to say that the learned world, 

 aware of his indefatigable industry, were eagerly looking for 

 other works at his hands, the fervid genius of the poet or dis- 

 coverer still appears in his reply : " And would you be the 

 man," said Harvey, smiling, "who should recommend me to 

 quit the peaceful haven, where I now pass my life, and launch 

 again upon the faithless sea ? You know full well what a 

 storm my former lucubrations raised. Much better is it 

 oftentimes to grow wise at home and in private, than by pub- 



