46 



TO THE READER. 



wanting to the Society, and to the honour of divers learned and ingenious 

 persons, who are the soul and body of it, not to vindicate them from the 

 ambitious plagiary, the insults of scoffers and injurious men. Certainly, 

 persons of right noble and subacted principles, who are lovers of their 

 country, should be otherwise aifected, and rather strive to encourage and 

 promote endeavours tending to so generous a design, than decry it ; 

 especially when it costs them nothing but their civility to so many 

 obliging persons, though they should hitherto have entertained them but 

 with some innocent diversions. To conclude, we envy none their dues ; 

 nay, we gratefully acknowledge any lights which we receive either from 

 home or from abroad : we celebrate and record the names of those who 

 give them amongst our benefactors ; recommend them to the public ; ' 

 and what we thus freely give, we hope as freely to receive. 



Thus have I endeavoured to vindicate the Royal Society from some 

 aspersions and encroachments it hitherto has suffered, and showed under 

 what weights and pressure this palm does still emerge ; and if, for all this, 

 I fall short of my attempt, I shall yet have this satisfaction, that though 

 I derive no glory from my own abilities, sensible of my great defects, I 

 shall yet deserve their pardon for my zeal to its prosperity. 



I A O 2 O <I' I A2 i-ariOvjjieTi; l napa.a-Mvoi'l^a avrlOiv, ti; v.alayi\a<707i<TO[A€yoq, Kola- 

 fAay.via-ofji.ivav am ntoWZv a<; iptivlav, oti ccqivco <ptKo<ro(poq '/jf/iv e-arai/eX'qXvSe, v.ai nodfv rj/Mv avT/j 

 yj o<ppv<; ; (TV Se otppi/j/ iJ.lv jM\ (rxoi' twv Se ^eXTi^cov (Toi (paivoj/.evoii/ sra; ep^e, aq im ts 

 0e5 Ttlayy-ivoq ei? Toir-qv -r-qv ia.^iv' \/.iiJ.Yq<TO 1\ oti la,v y.\v ^f/.^iivrii; roTq avroii;, ol y.ccra- 

 ■yeXSv/f'i tra irporepoi/, {stoI (T6 t^eoov ^avyAirovicn' ea,v 'qrTqSrfq avTU)/, ^iitXuv TTOoaX-qipTj 



xarayeXuTa . E PICTETUS. 



TRANSLATION. 



" If you resolve to make wisdom and virtue the study and business of 

 your life, you must be sure to arm yourself before-hand against all the 

 inconveniences and discouragements that are like to attend this resolu- 

 tion. Imagine that you shall meet Avith many scoffs, and much 

 derision ; and that people will upbraid you with turning philosopher 

 all on the sudden ; and ask in scorn, A¥hat is the meaning of all this 

 affected gravity, and these disdainful looks ? But be not you affected, 



