Library › Nemesius of Emesa › On the Nature of Man
On the Nature of Man
Nemesius of Emesa, tr. Wither, 1636
d1
SIR,
I Am not carefull to annexe your other Titles: for they are not so much honour to you, as they are honoured by you; and your bare Name sounds more honorably in my judgment, then that which the breath of others can adde unto it.
I have made bold therefore (though without your knowledge) to send abroad with your Name prefixed, this ancient Greek Father, newly taught to speak English; that hee may receive your approbation where hee well expresseth his meaning, and your correction hereafter where hee proves defective; For, I presumed you might by this meanes be provoked to the perusall thereof, notwithstanding your many studies.
Your Candor, and singular humanity, make mee confident in this attempt; For though my Author be a stranger to most moderne Students, you (from whom no such Worthie is obscured) are his familiar acquaintance; and in whose Name could I have more properly brought this Auncient among my Countrymen (to be entertained with respect) then in yours, who are the truest lover of Antiquities; and hee, who hath best shewed the right use of them to this Age?
I think not you to be any whit honoured by this Dedication; but, 〈•〉hat I have rather magnified my selfe in making it an occasion to signifie that I have so noble a Friend. Yet without all such respects, I have done this, meerely to content my self, in that which I thought could not justly discontent you; and, to say truth, having a long time loved your person, and honoured your worth, it is now an ease, and a delight to mee, to expresse it by this occasion.
And, you have not been pretious to mee without cause: For, I being one of those, who preposterously, begin to write before they learne, you might justly enough have reputed mee worthy of contempt onely, when I was first presented to your acquaintance. Neverthelesse, (perceiving, it may be that the affections of my heart were sound, though the fruits of my braine were defective) you vouchsafed mee a friendly, and a frequent familiarity: whereby I got opportunities both to rectifie my Judgement, and encrease my Vnderstanding in many things.
Were the same humble affability in those, (whom a lesse degree of knowledge hath vainly puffed up, to the corrupting of them into that, which is worse then Ignorance) they might have beene more beloved; and perhaps, more wise men then they are. To amend them & to encourage others to the like Vertue, I have testified this of you, and in that, shall perchance, adde somewhat to your honour.
I have lately confined my selfe to my rustick habitation, in that part of this Kingdome, which is famous for the best of those meats, wherewith the Poet Martial invited his friend: Pallens Faba, cum rubenti Lardo: yet it hath not made mee so meer a Corydon, but that I relish the delicates of the MVSES; and retaine some ambition to be continued in your esteem. And, SIR, wheresoever I am, you shall ever be remembred, and beloved of
Your unfained friend, and true Honourer, GEO: WITHER. From my Cottage, under the Beacon hill neere Farnham. May 23. 1636.