INTRODUCTION. 153 



discoveries of the ancients, and believe (which we are apt to do 

 through indolence) that nothing farther remains to be known, 

 we suffer the edge of our ingenuity to be taken off, and the 

 lamp which they delivered to us to be extinguished. No one 

 of a surety will allow that all truth was engrossed by the ancients, 

 unless he be utterly ignorant (to pass by other arts for the 

 present) of the many remarkable discoveries that have lately 

 been made in anatomy, these having been principally achieved 

 by individuals who, either intent upon some particular matter, 

 fell upon the novelty by accident, or (and this is the more 

 excellent way) who following the traces of nature with their 

 own eyes, pursued her through devious but most assured ways 

 till they reached her in the citadel of truth. And truly in 

 such pursuits it is sweet not merely to toil, but even to grow 

 weary, when the pains of discovering are amply compensated 

 by the pleasures of discovery. Eager for novelty, we are wont 

 to travel far into unknown countries, that with our own eyes 

 we may witness what we have heard reported as having been 

 seen by others, where, however, we for the most part find 



minuit przesentia famain : 



that the presence lessens the repute. It were disgraceful, 

 therefore, with this most spacious and admirable realm of 

 nature before us, and where the reward ever exceeds the 

 promise, did we take the reports of others upon trust, and go 

 on coining crude problems out of these, and on them hanging 

 knotty and captious and petty disputations. Nature is herself 

 to be addressed; the paths she shows us are to be boldly trodden; 

 for thus, and whilst we consult our proper senses, from inferior 

 advancing to superior levels, shall we penetrate at length into 

 the heart of her mystery. 



10 



