[114] “Quid dem? quid non dem?  Renuis tu quod jubet ille.”

------“What courses must I choose? 
What not?  What both would order you refuse.”

How shall I hope to express myself to each man’s humour and [115]conceit, or to give satisfaction to all?  Some understand too little, some too much, qui similiter in legendos libros, atque in salutandos homines irruunt, non cogitantes quales, sed quibus vestibus induti sint, as [116]Austin observes, not regarding what, but who write, [117]_orexin habet auctores celebritas_, not valuing the metal, but stamp that is upon it, Cantharum aspiciunt, non quid in eo.  If he be not rich, in great place, polite and brave, a great doctor, or full fraught with grand titles, though never so well qualified, he is a dunce; but, as [118]Baronius hath it of Cardinal Caraffa’s works, he is a mere hog that rejects any man for his poverty.  Some are too partial, as friends to overween, others come with a prejudice to carp, vilify, detract, and scoff; (qui de me forsan, quicquid est, omni contemptu contemptius judicant) some as bees for honey, some as spiders to gather poison.  What shall I do in this case?  As a Dutch host, if you come to an inn in.  Germany, and dislike your fare, diet, lodging, &c., replies in a surly tone, [119]_aliud tibi quaeras diversorium_, if you like not this, get you to another inn:  I resolve, if you like not my writing, go read something else.  I do not much esteem thy censure, take thy course, it is not as thou wilt, nor as I will, but when we have both done, that of [120]Plinius Secundus to Trajan will prove true, “Every man’s witty labour takes not, except the matter, subject, occasion, and some commending favourite happen to it.”  If I be taxed, exploded by thee and some such, I shall haply be approved and commended by others, and so have been (Expertus loquor), and may truly say with [121]Jovius in like case, (absit verbo jactantia) heroum quorundam, pontificum, et virorum nobilium familiaritatem et amicitiam, gratasque gratias, et multorum [122] bene laudatorum laudes sum inde promeritus, as I have been honoured by some worthy men, so have I been vilified by others, and shall be.  At the first publishing of this book, (which [123]Probus of Persius satires), editum librum continuo mirari homines, atque avide deripere caeperunt, I may in some sort apply to this my work.  The first, second, and third edition were suddenly gone, eagerly read, and, as I have said, not so much approved by some, as scornfully rejected by others.  But it was Democritus his fortune, Idem admirationi et [124]irrisioni habitus.  ’Twas Seneca’s fate, that superintendent of wit, learning, judgment, [125]_ad stuporem doctus_, the best of Greek and Latin writers, in Plutarch’s opinion; that “renowned corrector of vice,” as, [126]Fabius terms him, “and painful omniscious philosopher, that writ so excellently and admirably well,” could not please all parties, or escape censure.  How is