20 MOTION OF THE 



but also in public, in my anatomical lectures, after the manner 

 of the Academy of old. 



These views, as usual, pleased some more, others less ; some 

 chid and calumniated me, and laid it to me as a crime that I 

 had dared to depart from the precepts and opinion of all anato- 

 mists; others desired further explanations of the novelties, which 

 they said were both worthy of consideration, and might perchance 

 be found of signal use. At length, yielding to the requests of 

 my friends, that all might be made participators in my labours, 

 and partly moved by the envy of others, who, receiving my 

 views with uncandid minds and understanding them indiffer- 

 ently, have essayed to traduce me publicly, I have been moved 

 to commit these things to the press, in order that all may be 

 enabled to form an opinion both of me and my labours. This 

 step I take all the more willingly, seeing that Hieronymus 

 Fabricius of Aquapendente, although he has accurately and 

 learnedly delineated almost every one of the several parts of 

 animals in a special work, has left the heart alone untouched. 

 Finally, if any use or benefit to this department of the republic 

 of letters should accrue from my labours, it will, perhaps, be 

 allowed that I have not lived idly, and, as the old man in the 

 comedy says : 



For never yet hath any one attained 



To such perfection, but that time, and place, 



And use, have brought addition to his knowledge ; 



Or made correction, or admonished him, 



That he was ignorant of much which he 



Had thought he knew ; or led him to reject 



What he had once esteemed of highest price. 



So will it, perchance, be found with reference to the heart at 

 this time; or others, at least, starting from hence, the way 

 pointed out to them, advancing under the guidance of a happier 

 genius, may make occasion to proceed more fortunately, and 

 to inquire more accurately. 



