The fellow-traveller through city and countrey

TO THE More Serious AND Intelligent READER.

DEmocritus in collecting, composing, translating, and transcribing of these matters of Witt and Mirth, was not all the while in Jest. But he had this serious thought, that this Work of Recreation might be worth his own pains and your perusall. And therefore in the first place that it ought to be inno∣cent

and inoffensive, and next so to fit it for Recreation, as that it should not be unfit but usefull for the businesse of life.

For the Innocence of it, all Ob∣scenity, Bitternesse, and Scorn are rejected, as not the Wit but the Scumme and Froth of Discourses. Here are no Sports which savour of the old Scurra and Parasite, or of the late Morio and Buffoni; who were Doctors of the Chaire in this Businesse, but it was the Chair of Scorners. As there are few of the light Fool, so there are none of the bold and proud Fool, that in Libels and Pamphlets throws about him Stones and Firebrands, and saith, Am I not in sport? Here is no medling with matters not to be dallied with, and which will not admit jesting: And there∣fore the Church, the Court, and the Camp are purposely omit∣ted,

as places either not fit or not safe to be merry in. If there be in the other Places any scorn put upon great but grosse vices, obsti∣nate but weak Opinions, accusto∣med but vain Fashions and Affe∣ctations; He hath for this the war∣rant of a Grave Authour, that gives it in form of a Precept. In hoc flectendi sumus, ut omnia vulgi vitia non invisa modo sed & ridicula habeantur. And a graver then he addes a Reason, Quaedam jocosè dignare vinci, ne gravitate adorentur. Whoso puts himself in a Fools Coat, may blame himself if he be laughed at; neither hath he cause to blame the Shooe-maker, who findes in his Shop shooes of all Sizes, and such as will fit him. These are not the lesse innocent, but have the more goodnesse, if they spare not the guil∣ty. There is some notorious wit,

which Democritus was scrupulous to bring in, as of Robbers and Cheaters, &c. lest the wit might tempt to the imitation of the wic∣kednesse, for in that one only story which we have of Cheaters, it is probable that those two packs of Cheaters had their knavery, as well as both those Lawyers their cun∣ning from Demosthenes out of Plutarch.

The Innocence of these then be∣ing secured, they will have Good∣nesse enough for Recreations; and they will be the better for their wit, as the pleasures of the minde are more noble then those of the senses. In Travels, or after the toyl of se∣rious Employments, Merriments are allowed by all men. Haec hora est, Great pains do look for some season∣ing, Incommodum est hilaritate condiendum; and we see plain Countreymen doe ease and sweeten

their Drudgeries by a Song. When∣soever Recreations are seasonable, these will come in; as in indisposi∣tions of body or sicklinesse, when serious Books are forbid, these will be prescribed▪ In our Forefathers dayes, D. Merryman, D. Dyet, and D. Quiet were the three best Physi∣cians, and Doctor Merryman the First and President, and still that holds true, that a merry Heart doth good like a medicine. Free∣dome of minde from cares and anx∣ietie, at Meat, Sleep, and Recre∣ations is a common prescription, but confessedly the best in the Regiment of health. In other accidents of Life, where we grieve because grieving will not help (as the Old Philosopher said he did) we have need of such Exorcisms of Me∣lancholy. In all Pressures, Mirth makes our harms harmelesse, and blunts the edge of that which cuts.

Those from Power we digest more resolutely, because of the satisfa∣ction and courage from diviner con∣siderations: But still in them, and in Oppressions from Neighbour∣hood, where we expect better, which pinch hard, and make even a wise man mad (for Laesa saepius pa∣tientia fit Furor) such diversions are usefull to still and charm with their Musick those fretting and mu∣tinous thoughts, which disturb the serenity of our best employments. In all occasions, wherein it is not good to be too serious, Democritus thinks these to be serious enough.

But to be in good earnest, for our constant course of life, Voluptates commendat rarior usus, the mo∣derate use of any Pleasures makes them the safer and sweeter to us. Pleasures, like smels are the best in a waft. They are to be used 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. To make

Recreation our Businesse is to make a Meal of Sweet-meats. Those who have abundance of Idle∣nesse, may feed upon a Romance, an idle mans work for an idle wo∣mans study; but as the feeding on Sweet-Meats indisposeth the sto∣mack for more solid food, and makes but weak and thin bodies, so the feeding of mens mindes with such Play-books and aery Fancies (if there be no other iniquity in them) is apt to make men unapt for the duties of life, and the reall and so∣ber apprehensions of Truth and Good∣nesse. But these were collected and are directed not for Study but Re∣creation; as Laborum Condi∣menta, and Solatia Itineris. Be∣sides these were drawn from Pra∣ctise and know the way thither. There are Lusus Serii: the very Cats an∣tick Gestures, while she is young, are not idle; but preparatory to enable

her to prey in any Postures. And these contain more then for the Re∣freshment, much for the Businesse of our Travels; not only jucunda but idonea vitae; things upright as well as acceptable; and which may improve our Recreation-times to some good advantage; either by using them as Seeds and Hints of Meditation, or for Flowers and Or∣naments of Discourse, or for Fruits in the application of them to the like occurrent cases.

And it is not for nothing, that Apophthegmes and Proverbs, the two main things which complete this piece (some few stories excepted, which contain the witty Deed, as the other the witty word or speech) it is not for nothing that they have had the generall approbation of men and Times for Wit and Mirth; be∣cause these are so pleasant as to please all men. And therefore an

Apophthegm outlives his Authour and is derived through Ages. Many Philosophers who have their Writings lost, and many great Persons who have their Deeds buried without hi∣story or memory, have yet such sayings of theirs preserved till this day. For Proverbs (of which more is to be spoken hereafter) are the grea∣test part of vulgar, and the Remains of ancient Philosophy; and Apoph∣thegmes are the greatest part of publique and popular Rhethorique; and as Quintilian (in a mistake and unawares) confesseth, they dif∣fer nothing from the perfectest Elo∣quence but in their Brevity; and that commends them to have their vigour compacted, to be pithy speech∣es (as we call them) full of pith and marrow: for if there be price in Jew∣els, there is as much worth in a Ca∣binet as in a Storehouse or Cellar; more life there is in these, and more

efficacy. to move men then in a long Speech made for state and Ostenta∣tion, which often dyes in its birth. These make a stronger Impression in mens mindes; and are more quick∣ly received because of their acutenes; as a sharp-pointed Instrument en∣ters easier and goes farther then a flat dull and broad one; and these obtain a firmer Retention; as Nails not only enter easier but stick faster. These walk upon mens tongues, dance in their fancies, are carried about in their Memories, and are re∣served for graces of their Discour∣ses, when they desire to appear in their Festival habits and holiday-be∣haviour.

These are Democritus his A∣tomes; and a world of benefit is built upon such little things. And in magnifying these Democritus doth not hyperbolize but speak measured Truth; and but for swelling the E∣pistle,

he could enlarge in favour of his Subject. A Subject thought not below a Caesar to take in hand; and which one of the best Greek Au∣thours thought a Present fit for one of the best Roman Emperours. This Language was famous among the Lacedemonians while they were in power, and with the Romans when they were in their glory: And with them the habit of this Language got the name and credit of Urbanitas. Civil language we may call it right, for it reigns in flourishing Cities; or Gentile language for it is to be had from Gentlemen and those of the best breeding; but the Latine Ur∣banitas aims higher, it is courtesie or Court language, for it was the Language of the City of Rome, when it was Empresse of the world. A kinde of language which takes in as many as the matter permits of the vertues of good language: it is plain

and clear, without affectation; sin∣cere and hearty without dissimulati∣on; it is bold and free, and yet re∣spective and modest; Grave and se∣rious, and yet chearfull and courteous; Witty but yet Cleanly; Brief, and short but quick and full. And of this sort of Language this small Book hath store of Examples, which are ever more kindely evident and effe∣ctuall then Rules and Precepts.

And now you will say Democri∣tus hath been in earnest, and hath set a sufficient price upon his Book. The Matter in the whole being good, if he have not fail'd in the choice of materials, and the handling. And for this Democritus knows an in∣telligent Reader will not be flattered by an Epistle into a good conceit of a Work; and therefore he leaves him (as he must do) to judge of De∣mocritus his judgement whether this be▪ a collection or election; whe∣ther

these be drawn ex faece vulgi, and in the common road, or from men of better extraction and conver∣sation, and have more of elegancy and sublimity; This is plain, that many strangers are naturaliz'd and made to speak English, especially of that Countrey which hath a feli∣city and facility in these speech∣es. And it is hoped these forreign Grafts may thrive in our Grounds, because transplanted from that Na∣tion, which (as an ingenious Tra∣veller and Writer observes) doth most symbolize with ours in their Ge∣nius and dispositions. Democritus hath done; and whatsoever is amiss (if he may know it) shall be undone by a Retraction. If any thing be of∣fensive honest is auribus or bonis moribus (which he knows not of) indictum esto. And now, you to your pleasure, and I to my Plough.