The Fame and Confession of the Fraternity of R. C./Publisher's Note
THE
Publiſher to the Reader.
t is the Obſervation of ſuch as skill Dreams, That to travel in our ſleep a long way, and all alone, is a ſign of Death. This it ſeems the Poet knew: for when the Queen of Carthage was to dye for Love, he fits her with this Melancholy Viſion:
——Longam Incomitata videtur
Ire Viam.——
Now the uſe I make of it, is this: I would be ſo wiſe, as to prognoſticate. I do therefore promiſe my preſent Work not only Life, but Acceptance: for in this my Dream (and I know you will call it ſo) I travel not without Company. There were ſome Gentlemen beſides my ſelf, who affected this Fame, and thought it no Diſparagement to their own: but it was their pleaſure it ſhould receive light at my hands, and this made them defer their own Copies, which otherwiſe had paſt the Preß. I have, Reader, but little more to ſay, unleß I tell thee of my Juſtice, and now thou ſhalt ſee how diſtributive it is. The Tranſlation of the Fama belongs to an unknown hand, but the Abilities of the Tranſlator I queſtion not. He hath indeed miſtaken Damaſcus for Damcar in Arabia, and this I would not alter, for I am no Pedant to correct another mans Labours. The Copy was communicated to me by a Gentleman more learned then my ſelf, and I ſhould name him here, but that he expects not either thy thanks or mine. As for the Preface, it is my own, and I wiſh thee the full Benefit of it, which certainly thou canſt not miſs, if thou com’ſt to it with clear eyes, and a purged ſpirit. Conſider that Prejudice obſtructs thy Judgment; for if thy Affections are engag’d, though to an Ignis fatuus, thou doſt think it a Guide, becauſe thou doſt follow it. It is not Opinion makes Things Falſe or True: for men have deny’d a great part of the World, which now they inhabit: and America as well as the Philoſophers Stone, was ſometimes in the Predicament of Impoſſibilities. There is nothing more abſurd, then to be of the ſame mind with the Generality of Men, for they have entertain’d many groſs Errors, which Time and Experience have confuted. It is indeed our Sluggiſhneſs and Incredulity that hinder all Diſcoveries, for men contribute nothing towards them but their Contempt, or, which is worſt, their Malice. I have known all this my ſelf, and therefore I tell it thee: but what uſe thou wilt make of it, I know not. To make thee what Man ſhould be, is not in my power, but it is much in thy own, if thou know’ſt thy Duty to thy ſelf. Think of it, and Farewell.
E. P.