I know that I
do but ill consult my own Advantage in the consenting to the Publication of
the following Treatise: For those things, which, whilst men knew not how
they were perform'd, appear'd so strange, will, when the way of making
them, and the Grounds on which I devis'd them, shall be Publick, quickly
lose all that their being _Rarityes_, and their _being thought Mysteries_,
contributed to recommend them. But 'tis fitter for Mountebancks than
Naturalis to desire to have their discoverys rather admir'd than
understood, and for my part I had much rather deserve the thanks of the
Ingenious, than enjoy the Applause of the Ignorant. And if I can so farr
contribute to the discovery of the nature of Colours, as to help the
Curious to it, I shall have reach'd my End, and sav'd my self some Labour
which else I may chance be tempted to undergo in prosecuting that subect,
and Adding to this Treatise, which I therefore call a _History_, because it
chiefly contains matters of fact, and which History the Title declares me
to look upon but as _Begun_: Because though that above a hundred, not to
say a hundred and fifty Experiments, (some loose, and others interwoven
amongst the discourses themselves) may suffice to give a _Beginning_ to a
History not hitherto, that I know, begun, by any; yet the subject is so
fruitfull, and so worthy, that those that are Curious of these Matters will
be farr more wanting to themselves than I can suspect, if what I now
publish prove any more than a _Beginning_.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25