The way to Knowledg by Epitomies is too streight, by Commentaries too much about.

IT is sufferable in any to use what liberty they list in their own manner of Writing, but the contracting and extending the lines and sense of others, if the first Authors might speak for themselves, would appear a thankless of∣fice; and if the Readers did confer with the Originals, they would confess they were not throughly or rightly informed. Epitomies are helpful to the memory, and of good private use, but set forth for publick Monuments, accuse the in∣dustrious Writers of delivering much impertinency, and di∣vert many to close and shallow cisterns, whose leasure might well be acquainted with more deep and open springs. In brief, what I heard sometimes spoken of Ramus, I believe of those thrifty Compendiums; They shew a short c•…urse to those who are contented to know a little, and a sure way to such whose care is not to understand much. Commentaries are guilty of the contrary extreme, stifling the Text with infinite additions, and scruing those conceits from the words, which, if the Authors were set on the Rack, they would never acknowledge. He who is discreet in bestowing his pains, will suspect those places to be desert and barren, where the way cannot be found without a guide; and leave curiosity in enquest of obscurities, which, before it receive content, doth lose or tire it self with digressions.