Page:Sir Thomas Browne's works, volume 3 (1835).djvu/398

three folios^{[A 1]} are yet too little, and how new herbals fly from America upon us; from persevering enquirers, and hold^{[A 2]} in those singularities, we expect such descriptions. Wherein England^{[A 3]} is now so exact, that it yields not to other countries.

We pretend not to multiply vegetable divisions by quincuncial and reticulate plants; or erect a new phytology. The field of knowledge hath been so traced, it is hard to spring any thing new. Of old things we write something new, if truth may receive addition, or envy will have any thing new; since the ancients knew the late anatomical discoveries, and Hippocrates the circulation.

You have been so long out of trite learning, that 'tis hard to find a subject proper for you; and if you have met with a sheet upon this, we have missed our intention. In this multiplicity of writing, by and barren themes are best fitted for invention; subjects so often discoursed confine the imagination, and fix our conceptions unto the notions of fore-writers. Besides, such discourses allow excursions, and venially admit of collateral truths, though at some distance from their principals. Wherein if we sometimes take wide liberty, we are not single, but err by great example.^{[A 4]}

He that will illustrate the excellency of this order, may easily fail upon so spruce a subject, wherein we have not affrighted the common reader with any other diagrams, than of itself; and have industriously declined illustrations from rare and unknown plants.

Your discerning judgment, so well acquainted with that study, will expect herein no mathematical truths, as well understanding how few generalities and U finitas^{[A 5]} there are in nature; how Scaliger hath found exceptions in most universal of Aristotle and Theophrastus; how botanical maxims must have fair allowance, and are tolerably current, if not intolerably over-balanced by exceptions.

1. Bauhini Theatrum Botanicum.
2. My worthy friend M. Goodier, an ancient and learned botanist.
3. As in London and divers parts, whereof we mention none, lest we seem to omit any.
4. Hippocrates de superfœtatione, de dentitione.
5. Rules without exceptions.^{[B 1]}

1. rules without exceptions.] This is, no doubt, an allusion to the well known and invariable rule in prosody,—"Postremo, U finita producuntur omnia,"—of which Browne here (most characteristically) avails himself in a proverbial sense.