222 INTERPRETATION OF XATUKK. 



And with the same candour, I profess that the legitimate 

 interpretation of nature, in the first ascent before arriving 

 at a certain degree of generals, should be kept pure and 

 separate from all application to works. Moreover, I know 

 that all those who have in some measure committed them 

 selves to the waters of experience, seeing they were infirm 

 of purpose, or desirous of ostentation, have at the entrance 

 unreasonably sought pledges of works, and have thence 

 been confounded and shipwrecked. But if any requires 

 at least particular promises, let him know that by that 

 knowledge which is now in use, men are not skilled enough 

 even for wishing. But, what is of less moment, should 

 any of the politicians whose custom it is from personal 

 calculations to estimate every thing, or from examples of 

 like endeavours to form conjecture, presume to interpose 

 his judgment in a matter of this sort, I would have told 

 that ancient saying, &quot; claudus in via, cursorem extra viam 

 antevertit,&quot; and not to think about examples since the 

 matter is without example. But the method of publishing 

 these things is, to have such of them as tend to seize the 

 correspondencies of dispositions, and purge the areas of 

 minds given out to the vulgar and talked of; to have the 

 rest handed down with selection and judgment. Nor am 

 I ignorant that it is a common and trite artifice of impos 

 tors, to keep apart from the vulgar certain things which 

 are nothing better than the impertinencies they set forth 

 to the vulgar. But without any imposture from sound 

 providence, I foresee that this formula of interpretation, 

 and the inventions made by it, will be more vigorous and 

 secure when contained within legitimate and chosen de 

 vices. Yet I undertake these things at the risk of others. 

 For none of those things which depend upon externals 

 concern me. Nor do I hunt after fame, or, like the 

 heretics, take delight in establishing a sect ; and, to receive 

 any private emolument from so great an undertaking, I 

 hold to be both ridiculous and base. Sufficient for me is 

 the consciousness of desert, and the very accomplishment 

 itself of thino-s, which even fortune cannot withstand. 



W. G. G. 



