Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2016 10:09:41 GMT
CHAP. X.
Of the Art of Memory.
Among these Arts, is to be reckon'd the Art of Memory; which, as Cicero saith, is nothing else, but a certain method of Teaching, and Precept; like a thin Membrane, consisting of Characters, Places, and Representations; first invented by Simonides Melito, and perfected by Metrodorus Sceptius. But let it be what it will, more certain it is, that it can never come to good, where there is not a very god Natural Me∣mory before; which sometimes it perplexes with such monstrous Apparitions, that instead of a new Me∣mory, it is the cause of Madness and Phrenzies; and over-burdening the Natural Memory with the Cha∣racters and Images of innumerable things and words, it occasions those that are not contented with the bounds of Nature, to run Mad with Art. This Art, when Simonides or some body else did offer to The∣mistocles, he refus'd it, saying, He had more need of Forgetfulness than Memory; said he, I remember what I would not, but I cannot forget what I would. As for Metrodorus, Quintilian thus writes concerning him: It was a great piece of vain Ostentation, saith he, to glory rather in his Memory by Art, than in that by Nature. Of this Art Cicero makes men∣tion, in his Book of Rhetoricks; Quintilian in his Institutions; and Seneca. Among Modern Authors,
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Francis Petrarch hath writ something concerning it; together with Mareol, Veronensis, Petrus Ravennas, Her∣mannus Buschius, and others, though unworthy of a Catalogue, as being obscure Persons. Many there be, that at this day Profess the same, though they get more Infamy and dis-repute, than gain thereby; being a sort of rascally Fellows, that do many times impose upon silly Youth, only to draw some small piece of money from them for present Subsistance. Lastly, 'tis a childish Triumph to boast of a great Memory; besides that it is a thing of shame and dis∣grace to make a shew of great Reading, exposing a great Fair of words without doors, when the House within is altogether unfurnish'd.
Of the Art of Memory.
Among these Arts, is to be reckon'd the Art of Memory; which, as Cicero saith, is nothing else, but a certain method of Teaching, and Precept; like a thin Membrane, consisting of Characters, Places, and Representations; first invented by Simonides Melito, and perfected by Metrodorus Sceptius. But let it be what it will, more certain it is, that it can never come to good, where there is not a very god Natural Me∣mory before; which sometimes it perplexes with such monstrous Apparitions, that instead of a new Me∣mory, it is the cause of Madness and Phrenzies; and over-burdening the Natural Memory with the Cha∣racters and Images of innumerable things and words, it occasions those that are not contented with the bounds of Nature, to run Mad with Art. This Art, when Simonides or some body else did offer to The∣mistocles, he refus'd it, saying, He had more need of Forgetfulness than Memory; said he, I remember what I would not, but I cannot forget what I would. As for Metrodorus, Quintilian thus writes concerning him: It was a great piece of vain Ostentation, saith he, to glory rather in his Memory by Art, than in that by Nature. Of this Art Cicero makes men∣tion, in his Book of Rhetoricks; Quintilian in his Institutions; and Seneca. Among Modern Authors,
Page 49
Francis Petrarch hath writ something concerning it; together with Mareol, Veronensis, Petrus Ravennas, Her∣mannus Buschius, and others, though unworthy of a Catalogue, as being obscure Persons. Many there be, that at this day Profess the same, though they get more Infamy and dis-repute, than gain thereby; being a sort of rascally Fellows, that do many times impose upon silly Youth, only to draw some small piece of money from them for present Subsistance. Lastly, 'tis a childish Triumph to boast of a great Memory; besides that it is a thing of shame and dis∣grace to make a shew of great Reading, exposing a great Fair of words without doors, when the House within is altogether unfurnish'd.