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Reading language

Democritus Junior to the Reader

He that invents any thing for publike good in any Art or Science, writes a Treatise, or performs any noble exploit, at home or abroad, shall be accordingly enriched, honored, and preferred. I say with Hannibal in Ennius, Hostem qui feriet erit mihi Carthaginensis, let him be of what condition he will, in all offices, actions, he that deserves best shall have best.

Tilianus in Philomus out of a charitable minde no doubt, wisht all his books were gold and silver, jewels and precious stones, to redeem captives, set free prisoners, and relieve all poor distressed souls that wanted means; religiously done, I deny not, but to what purpose? Suppose this were so well done, within a little after, though a man had Cræsus wealth to bestow, there would be as many more.

Wherefore I will suffer no Beggers, Rogues, Vagabonds, or idle persons at all, that cannot give an account of their lives how they maintain themselves: If they be impotent, lame, blinde, and single, they shall be sufficiently maintained in several hospitals, built for that purpose;

if married and infirm, past work, or by inevitable losse, or some such like misfortune cast behind, by distribution of corn, house-rent free, annual pensions or money, they shall be relieved, and highly rewarded for their good service they have formerly done; if able, they shall be enforced to work.

For I see no reason (as he said) why an Epicure or idle drone, a rich glutton, a usurer should live at ease, and do nothing, live in honor, in all manner of pleasures, and oppresse others, when as in the mean time a poor laborer, a smith, a carpenter, an husbandman that hath spent his time in continual labour, as an Asse to carry burdens, to do the Commonwealth good, and without whom we cannot live, shall be left in his old age to begge or starve, and lead a miserable life worse then a jument.

As all conditions shall be tied to their task, so none shall be overtired, but have their set times of recreations and holidaies, indulgere genio, feasts & merry meetings, even to the meanest artificer, or basest servant, once a week to sing or dance, (though not all at once) or do whatsoever he shall please, like that Saccarum festum, amongst the Persians, those Saturnals in Rome, as well as his master.

If any be drunk, he shall drink no more wine or strong drink in a twelve moneth after. A bankrupt shall be Catademiatus in Ampitheatro, publikely shamed, and he that cannot pay his debts, if by riot or negligence he have been impoverished, shal be for a twelve-month imprisoned, if in that space his creditors be not satisfied, he shall be hanged.

He that commits sacriledge shall lose his hands: he that bears false-witnesse, or is of perjury convict, shall have his tongue cut out, except he redeem it with his head. Murder, adultery shall be punished by death, but not theft, except it be some more grievous offence, or notorious offenders: otherwise they shal be condemned to the gallies, mines, be his slaves whom they offended, during their lives.

1066.Burtonp. 65, d: “Si quis egregium aut bello aut pace perfecerit. Sesel. l. 1.” Editor: “If anyone has accomplished something outstanding in war or peace.” Seyssel, book 1; exact passage uncollated.

1067.Burtonp. 65, second c in the margin, e in the body: “Ad regendam rempub. soli literati admittuntur, nec ad eam rem gratia magistratum aut regis indigent, omnia explorata cujusq; scientia & virtute pendent. Riccius lib. 1. cap. 5.” Editor: “Only the learned are admitted to govern the commonwealth; for this they do not need the favour of magistrates or king. Everything depends on each person’s tested learning and merit.” Ricci, book 1, chapter 5. The repeated marginal c and the body’s e are recorded rather than silently reconciled.

1068.Burtonp. 65, f: “In defuncti locum eum jussit subrogari, qui inter majores virtute reliquis præiret; non fuit apud mortales ullum excellentius certamen, aut cujus victoria magis esset expetenda, non enim inter celeres, celerrimo, non inter robustos robustissimo, &c.” Editor: “He ordered the dead man’s place to be filled by whoever, among the elders, surpassed the others in virtue. There was no nobler contest among mortals, nor one whose victory was more desirable: for it was not awarded to the swiftest among the swift, or the strongest among the strong, etc.” No source is named in this marginal entry. A close parallel is Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus 26.1, on electing the best-qualified elder to fill a vacancy in the senate. Burton’s immediate Latin source is not established.

1070.Burtonp. 65, asterisk: “Nullum videres vel in hac vel in vicinis regionibus pauperem, nullum obæratum, &c.” Editor: “You would see no poor person in this or the neighbouring regions, no one burdened with debt, etc.” The connection with the Tilianus passage is retained; the source remains unresolved.

1072.Burtonp. 65, g: “Nullus mendicus apud Sinas, nemini sano quamvis oculis turbatus sit mendicare permittitur, omnes pro viribus laborare coguntur, cæci molis trusatilibus versandis addicuntur, soli hospitiis gaudent, qui ad labores sunt inepti. Osor. l. 11. de reb. gest. Eman. Heming. de reg. Chin. l. 1. c. 3. Gotard. Arth. Orient. Ind. descr.” Editor: “There are no beggars among the Chinese. No one in health, even if his sight is impaired, is permitted to beg; all are compelled to work according to their strength. Blind people are assigned to turning handmills; only those unfit for work receive institutional lodging.” Osório, Deeds of Manuel, book 11; Hemingius, On China, book 1, chapter 3; Gotardus Arthus, Description of the East Indies. These are Burton’s cited claims, not independently verified facts.

1073.Burtonp. 65, h: “Alex. ab Alex. 3. c. 12.” Editor: Alexander ab Alexandro, book 3, chapter 12; exact passage uncollated.

1074.Burtonp. 65, i: “Sic olim Romæ Isaac. Pontan. de his optimè. Amstol. l. 2. c. 9.” Editor: “So formerly at Rome. Isaac Pontanus treats these matters very well: Amsterdam, book 2, chapter 9.” Exact passage uncollated.

1075.Burtonp. 65, k: “Idem Aristot. pol. 5. c. 8. Vitiosum quum soli pauperum liberi educantur ad labores nobilium & divitum in voluptatibus & deliciis.” Editor: “Likewise Aristotle, Politics, book 5, chapter 8. It is wrong when only the children of the poor are brought up to labour, while those of the noble and rich are brought up in pleasures and luxuries.” The printed wording and reference are retained.

1076.Burtonp. 65, l: “Quæ hæc injustitia ut nobilis quispiam, aut fœnerator qui nihil agat, lautam & splendidam vitam agat, otio & deliciis, quum interim auriga, faber, agricola, quo respub. carere non potest, vitam adeo miseram ducat, ut pejor quam jumentorum sit ejus conditio? Iniqua resp. quæ dat parasitis, adulatoribus, inanium voluptatum artificibus, generosis & otiosis tanta munera prodigit, at contra agricolis, carbonariis, aurigis, fabris, &c. nihil prospicit, sed eorum abusa labore florentis ætatis fame penset & ærumnis Mor. Utop. l. 2.” Editor: “What injustice is this, that a nobleman or moneylender who does nothing should live splendidly in leisure and pleasure, while a carter, craftsman, or farmer, whom the commonwealth cannot do without, lives so miserably that his condition is worse than a beast’s? An unjust commonwealth lavishes such gifts on parasites, flatterers, providers of empty pleasures, gentlemen, and the idle, yet makes no provision for farmers, charcoal burners, carters, craftsmen, and the like; after using their labour in the prime of life, it repays them with hunger and misery.” More, Utopia, book 2, near the conclusion; Burton condenses More’s argument. The irregular quæ dat … prodigit is retained.

1077.Burtonp. 65, m: “In Segovia nemo otiosus, nemo mendicus nisi per ætatem aut morbum opus facere non potest: nulli deest unde victum quærat, aut quo se exerceat. Cypr. Echovius Delit. Hispan. Nullus Genevæ otiosus, ne septennis puer. Paulus Heuzner Itiner.” Editor: “In Segovia no one is idle, no one begs unless age or illness prevents work; no one lacks a means of earning a living or an occupation. Cyprian Echovius, Delights of Spain. No one in Geneva is idle, not even a boy of seven. Paul Hentzner, Itinerary.” Exact passages remain uncollated.

1078.Burtonp. 66, n: “Atheneus l. 12.” Editor: Athenaeus, book 12, as printed. The relevant account is in The Learned Banqueters 14.44 (639c): a Babylonian festival in which masters temporarily obey slaves. The following section also discusses the Roman Saturnalia. Burton calls the Sacaea Persian.

1079.Burtonp. 66, o: “Simlerus de repub. Helvet.” Editor: Simler, On the Swiss Commonwealth; exact passage uncollated.

1080.Burtonp. 66, p: “Spartian. olim Romæ sic.” Editor: “Spartianus: so formerly at Rome.” The passage is Historia Augusta, Life of Hadrian 18.9, traditionally ascribed to Spartianus. It orders people who squandered their property, if legally independent, to be flogged in the amphitheatre and released; its verb is catomidiari. Burton’s printed Catademiatus in Ampitheatro is retained, and the modern column follows his own gloss, “publikely shamed,” rather than substituting the fuller punishment in the source.

1081.Burtonp. 66, q: “He that provides not for his family, is worse then a thief. Paul.” Editor: Compare 1 Timothy 5:8, which says “worse than an infidel” in the King James Bible, not “thief.” Burton’s wording is retained.

1083.Burtonp. 66, r: “Alfredi lex. utraque manus & lingua præcidatur, nisi eam capite redemerit.” Editor: “Alfred’s law: let both hands and the tongue be cut off, unless he redeems it with his head.” The note is attached where printed, at sacrilege; the body distributes the penalties across sacrilege and perjury. Attribution uncollated.

1084.Burtonp. 66, s: “Si quis nuptam stuprârit, virga virilis ei præciditur; si mulier, nasus & auriculæ præcidatur. Alfredi lex. En leges ipsi Veneri Martique timendas.” Editor: “If a man has illicit intercourse with a married woman, his penis is cut off; if a woman, her nose and ears are cut off. Alfred’s law. Behold laws to make Venus and Mars themselves afraid.” The irregular Latin agreement is retained. Exact legal source uncollated.

1085.Burtonp. 66, t: “Pauperes non peccant, quum extrema necessitate coacti rem alienam capiunt. Maldonat. Summula quæst. 8. art. 3. Ego cum illis sentio qui licere putant à divite clam accipere qui tenetur pauperi subvenire. Emmanuel Sa. Aphor. confess.” Editor: “The poor do not sin when extreme necessity compels them to take another’s property. Maldonado, Summula, question 8, article 3. I agree with those who think it lawful to take secretly from a rich man who is obliged to help the poor. Manuel de Sá, Aphorisms for Confessors.” Exact passages uncollated.