DOCTOR ENT'S EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 147 



so barbarous which has not discovered something for the gene- 

 ral good, whether led to it by accident or compelled by neces- 

 sity, which had been overlooked by more civilized commu- 

 nities. But shall we imagine that nothing can accrue to the 

 wide domains of science from such advantages, or that all know- 

 ledge was exhausted by the first ages of the world ? If we do, 

 the blame very certainly attaches to our indolence, nowise to 

 nature. 



" To this there is another evil added : many persons, wholly 

 without experience, from the presumed verisimilitude of a pre- 

 vious opinion, are often led by and by to speak of it boldly, as a 

 matter that is certainly known ; whence it comes, that not only 

 are they themselves deceived, but that they likewise lead other 

 incautious persons into error." 



Discoursing in this manner, and touching upon many topics 

 besides with wonderful fluency and facility, as is his custom, I 

 interposed by observing, " How free you yourself are from the 

 fault you indicate all know who are acquainted with you ; and 

 this is the reason wherefore the learned world, who are aware 

 of your unwearied industry in the study of philosophy, are 

 eagerly looking for your farther experiments." 



" 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 pri- 

 vate, than by publishing what you have amassed with infinite 

 labour, to stir up tempests that may rob you of peace and quiet 

 for the rest of your days." 



" True," said I ; "it is the usual reward of virtue to have 

 received ill for having merited well. But the winds which 

 raised those storms, like the north-western blast, which drowns 

 itself in its own rain, have only drawn mischief on themselves." 



Upon this he showed me his ' Exercises on the Generation of 



