Heraclitus, or, Mans looking-glass and survey of life written in French by Peter du Moulin ; and translated into English by Sir H. L'Estr.

To the Reader.

IT is now a∣bove 40 years since I transla∣ed this piece out of French, and laid it by in loose pa∣pers, intending to have published and exposed the same to common Test; but soon after I understood that I was prevented by a∣nothers labour that stept into the Press before me: nevertheless, because the

other is now antiquated and forgotten; and that upon my review, I may happily have phrased the Authors meaning more aptly to the modern mode & acceptation of the Eng∣lish tongue, for

Non verbum verbo cura∣bit redaere fidus Interpres—

A just translatour must not strive to follow the Author word for word, but to speak his sense to the most life of the others Language; and because the moment of this subject cannot be too often incul∣cated (as the Great Do∣ctor of the Gentiles saies,

It grieves me not to write the same things, for you it is sure) and that this book is no other than a perfect Map of Man, and Anato∣mie of all ages; A Nosce te∣ipsim, which is the highest Pitch, and hardest Lesson of all humane Learning; An Vniversall Dyall, which (though made in France) yet serves (with∣out any Astronomicall re∣duction) for all Meridi∣ans, and shews how the minutes of mans life pass away from the first rising to the last setting thereof, and even from Solomon upon his golden Throne, to Iob scraping himself

with Potsheards upon the ash-heap; for Statutum est omnibus mori, what man is he that shall not see death? (as David said it, and saw it) and after that comes Iudgment to Heaven or Hell for ever. For these reasons I have awakened these lines out of their Lethargie, and caused them to speak after so long silence to a people that never more needed good Counsell, and is ripe for the sharpest seve∣rity and sickle of Gods Iudgment. Let us there∣fore continually watch, that neither the World, the Flesh, or the Devill

plunder us of the richest Jewel of our Souls (which cost the greateest price that ever was) but study dayly, how and why we came hither, what we do here, whither we go, and in this minute, mo∣ment, mite, and mote of time (while it is called to day) to work out our sal∣vation (before the evill day coms when, of al the cum∣ber and cares of Honour, profit, and the dunghilla delights of this World) we shall say I have no pleasure in them, and shall fall under the fearfull and finall doom of eternall Sequestration both of

Body and Soul. Now to quicken the appetite of Meditation herein, let us to all our thoughts, words, and actions, set this for Centinell, Vidit, Venit, Deus. God Sees and Comes.

H. L'Estr.

Notes

• a

  Com∣paratively.