9O JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



gun will not mistake another tree instead of it ; " he says 

 that if eyebright " was but as much used as it is neglected, 

 it would half spoil the spectacle-maker's trade ; " and that 

 the common practice of applying a medicine in one part 

 of the body to affect another, is " as proper as for me when 

 my toe is sore to lay a plaister on my nose." He gives 

 curious personal details, as his curing his own daughter of 

 the king's evil with pilewort. He tells us, " Mars loves no 

 cowards, nor Saturn fools, nor I neither." He essays 

 practical philosophy and kindly moralizing. For example, 

 he wishes " gentlewomen would keep butter-burr preserved, 

 to help their poor neighbours, as it is fit the rich should 

 help the poor, for the poor cannot help themselves ; " " let 

 no man," says he, " despise cinquefoil, because it is plain and 

 easy the ways of God are all such ; " " seven years' care 

 and fear makes a man never the wiser nor a farthing 

 richer ; " " he that reads this, and understands what he 

 reads, hath a jewel of more worth than a diamond." 



He leaves a remedy to the world, " not caring a farthing 

 whether they like or dislike it ; the grave equals all men, 

 and therefore will equal me with all princes, until which 

 time the Eternal Providence is over me ; then the ill tongue 

 of a prating fellow, or one that hath more tongue than wit 

 or more proud than honest, shall never trouble me : 

 wisdom is justified by her children : and so much for 

 wormwood." He talks facetiously of Dr. Tradition, Dr. 

 Reason, Dr. Experience, Dr. Ignorance, Dr. Folly, and 

 Dr. Sickness. Altogether, the good Culpepper aims at 

 being at once the " guide, philosopher, and friend " of his 

 disciples. Certainly he cannot be accused of ever being 

 wearisome, obscure, or dull. 



